Tidings from across the Sea

With our ranks bolstered by Estinien, we could now count on the strength of one of the most powerful warriors the realm had to offer, ready to fight the Telophoroi whenever they would decide to appear once more. For now though, all we could do was wait for word from Krile in the hopes that the Forum would lend their ear to her words.

In the meantime, the seed that had been planted that day on the golden plains of Paglth'an had borne fruit and word had spread throughout the other Beast Tribes like a wildfire, leading to the historic assembly that, for the first time in all of Eorzean history, united Beast Tribes and City-states under one banner.

Thus the Grand Company of Eorzea was born.

It wasn't long after, when news of an envoy arriving from the Northern Sea.

It was done.

S'eni could hardly believe it, but it was truly done. After years of animosity or, worse, outright hostility the Alliance and the Beast Tribes were finally putting aside their differences and working towards a common goal. It was the very thing that Minfilia had dreamed of for so many years.

If only you were here to see it, she said in her mind as she looked up at the sky. Five years ago, shortly before the Calamity, the very notion of working together with them had earned Minfilia nothing but scorn and ridicule for her naivety. But she hadn't faltered, had continued on the path she believed was right, and along the way had found true companions that shared her ideals, becoming nothing short of family. ...you would be so proud.

With a smile, she lowered her head again and watched Riol and Alianne as they made their way deeper into Castrum Oriens to deliver their newest intelligence on the tower in Gyr Abania. She kept her gaze on their backs for a moment longer, then shifted it over to Alphinaud, who was watching them as well, but whose thoughts were clearly somewhere else.

Shortly after the assembly had concluded with the foundation of the Grand Company of Eorzea, Kan-E-Senna had approached them with the wish for Alphinaud to lend his expertise to turn the Sylph's not-so-hidden trading network from their Ashcrown Consortium into an effective line of communication between the Alliance and their new allies. He had accepted of course, but before committing any words to paper, had wished to hear the thoughts of former Braves; to draw upon them, and to better avoid the mistakes that he had made in the past. Which was why they had come here to speak with Riol and Alianne.

Yes, that was so very much like him.

Reaching into one of her pouches, S'eni pulled out a coin and flicked it over to him. The sound startled him out of his thoughts and his hand shot up reflexively to catch it. He looked at her questioningly.

"Gil for your thoughts?" she asked, drawing out a chuckle from him.

"I'm alright," he said and handed the coin back to her. "Their words have just given me much to think about."

"Good to hear their open and honest opinion?"

Alphinaud nodded. "Quite so. And while I know there will be fewer life-affirming testimonies waiting, I look forward to those as well. But we have done what we came here for. Let's head to Gridania to see what the others learned."

With a hum, she fell into step next to him as he walked over to the very same gate Riol and Alianne had just stepped through.

"You know, Minfilia and you are very similar," she said.

"How so?"

"She made mistakes in the past too, but instead of letting them pull her down, she chose to learn from them and became stronger for it."

"I cannot say that I fully agree with that assessment..." he smiled. "But it is very appreciated, coming from someone who has known her for so long."

Their journey to Gridania was short and relatively uneventful, thanks in no small part to Zack carrying them there. After putting him into the local stable, and giving him his hard-earned greens, she stepped outside to find Alphinaud writing something into the small book he usually used for his notes. Moving into the old part of town, they found Alisaie and G'raha standing not far from the Lancers' Guild, idly talking until the two of them noticed their approach.

"Ah, there you," Alisaie called. "Did you manage to find them?"

"We did," Alphinaud replied. "How has your search been going?"

The young woman pulled out a handful of notes and waved them around a little. "Thanks to Tataru's dependable information network we managed to track down a handful of Braves without much difficulty. Some were more forthcoming than others, but we learned enough to paint a picture. I must warn you though—" she held them out towards him. "—some of their comments were...harsh."

"I can imagine. But their opinions are just as vital to my report as the others. I seek unvarnished truth," he said and took the notes from her, his eyes going to the words written on them almost immediately. "I will begin adding your findings to my own. In the meantime, please go ahead to Little Solace without me. I will join you later."

"Well, you heard my brother," Alisaie said while turning towards them. "And I don't know about you, but I'm teleporting."

With that said, the young Elezen began to rise into the air and, a few seconds later, vanished. G'raha shared a look with S'eni and chuckled, before following Alisaie's example. After taking a moment to watch Alphinaud sit down on the steps of the guild and begin to read the notes in his hand, she too joined her friends.

Within seconds, she emerged from the Hawthorne hut. Having been originally a trapper's hut, it had turned into a homestead of considerable size over the years, most notable for its beekeeper farm which was famed not only for the honey it produced, but also for the mead made with it. The other thing that made this relatively quiet part of the Black Shroud special though, was its close proximity to the Sylphlands, and Little Solace in particular. For their part, the Hawthorne's were hospitable people that actually enjoyed company, which had made the area a de facto outpost for Gridania in regards to the Beast Tribe nearby, something that came quite in handy to the Scions as well in the past.

"You know, now that I think about it, out of the four of us, only Alphinaud and you have any real experience with the Sylphs," Alisaie said as they began to head in the direction of the small Sylph encampment. "Still, how hard can it be?"

Harder than you might imagine, S'eni thought, still very much remembering their little misadventure in the Sylphlands. They could be quite...playful to say the least. She couldn't blame Y'shtola and Thancred one bit for bailing out on this task at the first opportunity.

It didn't take long for them to arrive at the Sylphs' village and S'eni was glad to see that much seemed to have changed around these parts. Maybe a few more of their tiny houses that were suspended from the trees above, but all in all, still the same place. Even Frixio, the elder one as called by the other Sylphs, seemed to like relaxing in the same spot as the last time she was here.

"Ah, brave one and friends of brave one!" he greeted them, putting aside the piece of cloth he was dyeing and fluttering up into the air. "It is good to see walking ones again so soon after the meeting."

"It's been a while since we spoke like this though, Elder Frixio," she replied and did a twirl that earned her a questioning look from her companions.

The Sylph raised his tiny hands and shook his head. "Oh no no, there is no need for brave one to dance. These ones have delighted in making walking ones dance, but no more."

"Oh..." she blinked and lowered her arms again. "...Alright."

She didn't know why, but she was actually slightly disappointed.

"Horned one Kan–E–Senna said that walking ones would be coming to Little Solace, " Frixio said, adjusting the tiny pair of glasses resting on his nose. "Imperial ones also invaded Sylphlands and abducted many of these ones, so these ones will be glad to bear messages between fighting friendly ones!"

"That is good to hear, Elder," G'raha said. "It will require all ones to work in unison to stop the Telophoroi."

"These ones will try very hard, of course, but in matters of war, these ones have little experience. Any advice walking ones can provide would be most welcome." Frixio then looked past them, a look of surprise on his face. "...Oh? Another pretty silver-haired one? And in quite a hurry, it seems."

They turned around to see Alphinaud running towards them, waving his hand as he called out to them. "Alisaie!"

"Alphinaud?" Alisaie asked as he came to a halt in front of her. "What's the matter? Don't tell me you couldn't read my handwriting..."

The young man's eyes widened and he shook his head wildly. "What? No! A Twin Adder officer approached me while I was compiling my notes. He told me that Sharlayan has sent an envoy that will soon arrive in Gridania!"

"An envoy?" G'raha repeated, visibly surprised by this news. "Could it be that Krile has managed to sway the Forum?"

"Let's hope so," S'eni murmured.

"There is more, though. The envoy requested that the two of us be present," Alphinaud told his sister.

"Really? Why us specifically and not the Scions in general?" but just as Alisaie voiced that question, her eyes widened in realization. "...Wait. It isn't who I think it is?"

"...It is." Alphinaud nodded. "I could hardly believe it myself, but when I inquired about the envoy's identity I was told it was Fourchenault Leveilleur."

Wait, isn't that—!?

"Your father?" G'raha exclaimed, taking a second to let it sink in. "The fact that a serving member of the Forum has journeyed here is surprising enough, but him?"

"It must mean they are taking the matter seriously," Alphinaud said.

"Maybe, but why him and not one of the other ninety-eight members?" Alisaie wondered. "Unless he volunteered for it."

"It has been some time since you saw your father, hasn't it?" G'raha asked. "Perhaps he is concerned for your well-being."

The young woman didn't really look convinced by that notion. "...Could be, but he has always been reluctant to discuss his work with us in the past."

"Indeed. And whenever we wrote our parents, it was always our mother that replied. Nevertheless, it will be a good opportunity to see him after so long. Elder Frixio—" Alphinaud turned towards the Sylph and bowed. "l am sorry, but our visit has to be cut short. Please accept my report as a token of apology."

"Nevermind. There will be time to talk later," he replied with a friendly smile as he took the offered report. "This one won't keep walking ones from more urgent matters. Go!"

"Thank you, Elder Frixio." Alphinaud looked back at them. "The Elder Seedseer awaits us at the Lotus Stand. Let's be on our way."

With a round of nods and one final goodbye to the elder, they left. On their way back, S'eni couldn't help but glance over at the twins, watching as an air of nervousness began to surround them the closer they got to their destination. She must have looked very much the same when Y'shtola and her had visited her home. Hopefully, their long-awaited reunion would end just as well.

The calming burble of water wafted through the air as they entered the Lotus Stand, where they were already awaited by Kan-E-Senna and her entourage of guards. For a brief moment, S'eni let her eyes wander about, silently wondering how many times she had now been in Gridania's most political place, before looking back towards the Elder Seedseer.

"My friends, I thank you all for coming so swiftly," Kan-E-Senna greeted them. "Word of Master Fourchenault's visit has taken us quite by surprise. When the Alliance granted Mistress Krile permission to request Sharlayan's aid, we did not anticipate to receive word back so soon, and from a member of the Forum no less."

"Let's just hope the word he brings is favourable," S'eni said.

"We shall see." Kan-E-Senna inclined her head when one of her Conjurers stepped forth to whisper something in her ear, then nodded. "He will be here shortly."

And indeed, it didn't take long for their guest to arrive, his white robes making him quite visible against the greenery as he walked towards them in confident strides that made the braid his long, white hair was woven into bounce off his back a little. Looking into his face, a mask of political neutrality as befitting of an envoy, S'eni could immediately see the familial similarities, though much more to his father than to his son and daughter. He came to a stop a few feet away, regarding everyone with a look before focusing on Kan-E-Senna.

"Elder Seedseer, I thank you on Sharlayan's behalf for granting me this audience," he said. "But please, allow me to introduce myself. I am Fourchenault Leveilleur, representative of the Forum. It is an honor to make your acquaintance."

"I bid you welcome, Master Fourchenault. I wish to thank you as well for journeying so far and so swiftly. If only our first meeting could have been under different circumstances."

Fourchenault then turned his head to look at the twins.

"It has been too long, Father," Alphinaud said. "I'm glad to see you are doing well."

"Ah, Alphinaud, Alisaie." The diplomatic mask cracked for a moment to reveal a fatherly smile on the man's face. "It warms my heart to see you again after such a long time. Ameliance will be happy to hear that you are in good spirits. She misses you dearly."

"Is mother alright?" Alisaie asked, a hint of worry in her voice that was swiftly placated by her father.

"But of course. Though not a day passes in which she does not worry for you." As swiftly as it had vanished, the mask slipped back into place and he returned his attention to the Elder Seedseer. "Thank you, for offering me a chance to see my children again. And I am grateful to finally visit the famed Gridania, where my father spent most of his time making plans to battle against the primals."

The Elder Seedseer smiled. "A malmstone in the history of our humble city-state. I shall never forget the conviction and passion with which he spoke as he granted us the means to vanquish the primals. It was thanks to his efforts that we were able to stop the Empire's plans. If not for him, I doubt Gridana would still exist as it does today."

"I am sure my father would have been moved by these words, but with all due respect, I cannot agree with them. Quite the opposite, in fact, I have viewed his actions as irresponsible until the very end. And my position remains unchanged."

"'To chart the course of history, not to change it.' I am familiar with the Sharlayans' stance," Kan-E-Senna said.

"More so a way of life than a stance. It is who we are," Fourchenault replied before straightening himself. "Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna, as representative of Sharlayan I deliver to you the Forum's answer to the Eorzean Alliance's request: Sharlayan will under no circumstances intervene in the conflict between the Garlean Empire and the people of Eorzea."

S'eni narrowed her eyes as the twins' shocked gasps penetrated the heavy silence that followed his words.

"...As you well know, the Final Days spell the end of the entire world." It was barely noticeable, but the Elder Seedseer's grip on her staff tightened. "How can Sharlayan simply stand by in the face of such a threat?"

"The Final Days?" The twins' father raised his hand as if to wave off the entire issue. "Please, spare me the hyperbole. To us, this seems more like another petty squabble between yourselves and Garlemald. Certainly not a world-ending threat, that would demand Sharlayan's intervention."

"Father! You can't be serious!" Alphinaud practically shouted, taking a step forward. "If Sharlayan does not act now then the Telophoroi's will kill us all. Do you really believe there will be a world left to observe from your little island across the waves!?"

"Alphinaud is right!" Alisaie stepped next to her brother. " We have seen what the enemy is capable of, the lengths to which they'll go. You can't allow Sharlayan to turn a blind eye to this! If you truly love our homeland, you will join us before it's too late."

A sigh passed Fourchenault's lips and the disappointment couldn't be more clearly written on his face. "It seems I was mistaken. I allowed you to come to Eorzea to broaden your horizons, in hopes that it would instill you with a hint of restraint," he said. "But instead the time here has made fools out of you. Have you forgotten why it was that I so vehemently opposed your grandfather's departure?"

They didn't respond.

"Do you really believe that war is the solution to all your problems? Death. Devastation. Ruin. How many generations will it take until 'victory' has offset the suffering of the victims? It is the duty of the learned to avoid such tragedy. Have you still not come to understand that?"

At that, S'eni finally decided to break her silence. "To ignore the plight of those one might conceivably save is not wisdom—" her gaze met his. "—it is indolence."

Fourchenault didn't reply, but she could have sworn his eyes narrowed ever so slightly before he turned them back towards his children.

"Violence is never justifiable. By embracing such barbaric notions, you have subverted the teachings of Sharlayan and placed all we have worked for in jeopardy. Alphinaud. Alisaie. If it is war you desire then from this moment onward you shall no longer bear the name Leveilleur."

"What!?"

"Father!"

"How you choose to live your lives is no longer my concern. If you wish to walk the path of ruin, I will not stand in your way," he said and turned around to leave.

"Master Fourchenault!" Kan-E-Senna called out, making him stop. "I understand Sharlayan's position, but for the sake of our future, I beg of you to let us talk once more!"

"That will not be necessary," Fourchenault said. "Whatever it is you might have to say, it will not sway Sharlayan's decision. And I believe we have more important matters to attend to than to waste our time."

Without sparing so much as a single glance to his children, he left.

"Father, wait!" Alisaie made to follow, but Alphinaud grabbed her arm.

"Don't bother, Alisaie!"

"How can you stand there and watch him walk away!? How can you let this happen!?"

A frown formed on S'eni's face. The possibility of Sharlayan refusing their call for aid had always been realistic, as the others would undoubtedly point out if they were present. But she never suspected that he, for all the opposition to his father, would extend it to his own children. She glanced over to them, watching as Alisaie paced around like an agitated Coeurl while alternating between glaring at her brother and the space their father had just occupied.

Lowering her eyes to the ground for a moment, S'eni bit her lip—

"S'eni! Hey—!"

—and chased after him.

She caught up to him just as he stepped out of the Lotus Stand and was about to make for the Roost. "Master Fourchenault!"

"I believe I have said what I came here to say," he said in a dismissive tone. When he didn't show even the slightest inclination of stopping, she stepped in front of him.

"Please, I beg you to reconsider. If not about helping the Alliance, then about Alphinaud and Alisaie," she pleaded. "What would your father think?"

"My father caused all this. He willingly went against all we stand for and, in doing so, not only poisoned the minds of the Circle of Knowing, but those of his grandchildren as well." He stared at her, the calm mask on his face still firmly in place, but there was now a notable spark in his eyes. "'To ignore the plight of those ones might conceivably save is not wisdom, it is indolence.' In the end, the only thing these words have brought was senseless death and Alisaie and Alphinaud have chosen to follow the same foolish exa—"

"You're wrong!" she shouted. "Your father wasn't a fool. He was the wisest man I have ever known! Look around you. He sacrificed himself to save these people's lives! To save my life!"

Louisoix's smiling face just moments from when he spirited her away from Carteneau surfaced in her mind, followed by the image of the final goodbye Alphinaud and Alisaie shared with him after they had freed his soul from Bahamut's thrall that fanned the flame of anger that had begun to burn deep inside of her. She balled her shaking hands into fists. How dare he!

"You weren't there! You know nothing! While we were fighting for our lives, you sat back on your little island, pretending you are oh so better than the rest of us uncivilized savages! Tell me, if Garlemald had come knocking on Sharlayan's doorstep would you have fought for it or taken it lying face down while clinging to your way of life!?" She didn't leave him any time to respond. "Oh wait, you already ran with your tails tucked between your legs before, and now you dare to spit on Louisoix's legacy not only in the place he saved, but in front of your own children. Now I realize what Matoya meant, and how right she was. You say they don't deserve the name of Leveilleur—"

S'eni stepped up to him and craned her neck to glare at him, her scathing gaze meeting his.

"—it's you who doesn't deserve to call yourself a Leveilleur."

And before doing something she would come to regret later, she walked away, heading back in the direction of the Lotus Stand again. As soon as she was sure Fourchenault couldn't see, S'eni punched a nearby rock, taking a good chunk out of it and sending it flying across the grass-covered path. With a curse, she slumped down on the ground, covering her face with her while releasing a shaky breath.

She remained like this for a few minutes, trying to calm herself down before joining her friends once more, when a sudden chime went through the air. Without even looking, she reached into her pouch, pulled out her linkpearl, and put it into her ear. She pressed on it. "...yes?"

"S'eni!"

"Krile?"

"Has Master Fourchenault arrived yet?"

"Yeah, he just left. It...didn't go exactly well." With a sigh, S'eni uncovered her face and rose back to her feet. "Said that Sharlayan wouldn't get involved."

"I see...then it's as I feared..." Krile said. "My efforts were in vain."

"Hm. It was always a slim hope anyway."

"Maybe. I pleaded our ase to as many Forum members as I could, but every last one of them refused to discuss the matter. No...that's not entirely right. It was more so that they outright ignored every word of the subject, without exception. It was almost unnerving."

"What do you mean?" she frowned. "Wait, the others should hear this too."

"You're not with them?" the Lalafel asked.

"I might have gone after Fourchenault and kind of blew up in his face," S'eni replied, earning herself a mix of a sigh and a chuckle from her friend.

"I can't blame you, I suppose."

As she made her way back to her friends, she wondered what it could be that made the Forum so opposed to helping them? Was it really just their way of life? Or was there perhaps something else?

Another mystery on the ever-growing mountain of mysteries...