Toward Eternal Sea
Everything seemed so small from up here. The fragment of the Dragonstar, the desert of the Ea, and even the floating remnants of Alphatron, though nearby, appeared almost tiny as she looked down the edge of the rocky isle they stood on. It made their journey up until now look like nothing but a stone's throw, but it felt like they had traveled the world twice over.
Gods, she felt so exhausted...
"...It's so unbearably quiet," Alisaie said from next to her. "All I can hear are our footsteps. My heartbeat. I know our friends are with us, that we can still breathe and continue onward is proof alone. I just..."
Alisaie looked at her, finding her eyes, and S'eni could see the depths of sadness within her friend's gaze.
"...wish I could hear their voices."
"Me too, Alisaie..." she admitted, wrapping an arm around Alisaie's shoulders to guide her back towards the crystal path, where Alphinaud was waiting for them. "Me too..."
What she wouldn't give to hear them now. She could almost imagine it, their voices like an encouraging song whispering in the wind. But there were none. It was only the three of them here.
Alphinaud offered them a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Our adventures were always so lively," he said as they continued onward. "Thancred always having an eye on our surroundings, Y'shtola and Urianger exchanging theories. G'raha would chat with us about the mission, while Estinien would stay back to better keep an eye on us. And in the midst of it all were you—"
He looked at S'eni.
"—sometimes here, sometimes there, but always present."
It wasn't even that long ago, yet it already felt like an eternity. Next to her, Alisaie sighed and looked towards the broken stars that floated all around Ultima Thule, shattered and unravelled husks that were once the worlds of countless beings, some still faintly glowing with what little life they had left. Her own eyes landed on a particular one that stood apart from even those, being nothing more than a floating abyss threatening to swallow all nearby light.
"We're seeing their ends, aren't we?" Alisaie asked. "The sight fills me with sorrow...and yet I can't look away..."
They continued onward in silence, traveling from isle to isle across the path G'raha had created for them, heading ever higher. S'eni stopped for a brief moment to look down. The portal that had brought them here was barely visible anymore.
"We've come quite far," Alphinaud said, his gauze joining hers, followed by a little exhale. "...in more ways than one. I doubt I would have made it this far if I were still the same as back when we met, blinded by ideals. Yet despite my failures, Hydaelyn saw fit to show me a path. Do you know what I mean?"
"Yeah, I do..." the corners of her lips faintly rose. She then looked between the two, taking in their appearance. They looked tired. "Are you two alright? Do you need to rest?"
The twins looked at each other and Alisaie replied, "I'm still able to go on, but thank you."
Alphinaud nodded in agreement. "It's kind of you to ask. What about you, though?"
"I'm...fine." It was a blatant lie, and one look at their faces was enough to know that they didn't buy it at all. But they didn't press the issue, and for that she was grateful. She could rest when this whole thing was over.
At long last, they reached the end of the crystal path. The ground was grassy, with a few pale blue weeds sticking out from in between, but the soil was dry to the touch, like it had been struck with a drought. Looking up, there was only a single path ahead of them, leading towards the dead sun that loomed above all.
The Meteia's nest. An egg that will never hatch. A life, never to be born, staying still for all time.
It was within their grasp. Just a little more...
She glanced over her shoulder at the twins, sharing a nod with them, and began to jog up the path. What they found at the end of it was nothing any of them had expected though. Alphinaud's eyes widened. "Is that not...!"
The twins rushed ahead a little, coming to a stop in front of what looked to be a town plaza or a park perhaps. A few buildings were scattered around it, but just like the rest of the area, they were covered in visible dust and looked quite desolate. Apart from that, though, it seemed oddly reminiscent of home...
"Definitely a town," Alisaie said while looking around. She frowned. "But it looks deserted."
"Perhaps the inhabitants are hiding inside?" Alphinaud offered.
"Wrong. There is no one here anymore," a voice suddenly said and they all whirled around to find Meteion standing at the center of the plaza, underneath an oddly shaped tree. The girl beheld them with a passive look in her eyes before walking towards them with slow and deliberate steps, coming to a stop a few paces away from them.
"What do you mean there's no one here anymore?" S'eni asked.
"It was already like this when I arrived." A shift of shoulders, almost like a shrug. "I do not know what happened to this star. Was it an invasion? A plague? Or perhaps mass suicide? All that I can say is that no life exists here anymore."
"So why are you here, then?" she asked and stepped forward. "Are we going to end this right now?"
Meteion almost appeared amused at the notion. "If you think you have caught me at last, I must disappoint you. This form is but a drop from the ocean that swells within our sun. I could easily unmake you, devour you until nothing is left, but the will of your comrades prevents that. For now. So until they finally fade away, we shall walk around in circles as silent watchers of this lifeless place."
S'eni eyed the girl, standing there impassively, then returned to the twins.
"If what she says is true, what are we supposed to do...?" Alisaie asked in a low voice.
"If no one is here, then neither should there be an emotion to bar our way," Alphinaud surmised.
"Let's have a look around. See if we can find anything of note," she said.
"Yes, go ahead," Meteion cut in. "You will only return here empty-handed."
The three of them shared a look, and split off to search the area. Walking forward, she stopped not far from the center, casting her gaze out and even trying to call anyone that might be here but was met with only silence. Her eyes then found a particular building and she headed over to it.
It was a tavern of some sort, but far more out in the open than the ones she had been to in the past. Its bar was one large circle, shaped like the building, and there were tables scattered all around it. On the shelves behind it were egg-shaped containers and she found some more placed sporadically across the counter. Reaching out, she brushed the tip of her finger across the rim of one and looked around.
This place must have once been bustling with people, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Until one day it wasn't, leaving behind only the emptiness she found here. Retracting her hand, she walked away and towards another building.
There appeared to be nothing to see at first glance, yet as she circled around it, S'eni found what appeared to be a window. It was only when she took a closer look at it, that she noticed it was actually a doorway, just strangely offset from the ground. She tried to pry it open, but it was rusted shut and must have been for a long time if the dust on her hands was any indication. As she brushed it off, she looked at the boxes next to it. They were quite reminiscent of the Moogle mailboxes back home, though far less elaborate. Small, glowing signs marked each of them, but the characters on them had long since faded.
The names of the inhabitants, most likely. People that went about their daily lives, coming and going through this door. Day after day after day. Now it was only her footsteps that left sandy marks on this threshold.
Leaving the building, and the silently forgotten memories it might have held, she made her way to the oddly shaped tree in the center. As she touched it, though, she realized that it was no tree at all, its texture rather resembling that of smoothened stone. Standing here in place of an actual tree, perhaps?
Whatever the reason may be, there was no one here to answer that question.
Not far from this tree-like structure, she found multiple tables, some empty, some having cups on them. Like everything else, they were covered in dust and sand, yet with the way everything was arranged, it appeared like whoever had been seated here must have either left suddenly or hadn't been in any hurry. She wondered who it could have been. Two friends just enjoying a nice day? A pair of lovers making plans for their shared futures?
S'eni glanced over her shoulder to check if the twins were nearby, then grabbed one of the chairs, tipped it over to clear it of sand, and sat down on it. With a sigh, she covered her face in her hands. There really was no one here. Just them, and Meteion.
So what are we supposed to do...?
Feeling a sudden presence nearby, she lowered her hands to see Meteion standing in front of her, arms behind her back and leaning forward to closely look at her. A hint of curiosity was reflected in her pale grey eyes. S'eni leaned backwards and asked, "Do you want something?"
"...Why do you persist?"
"Come again?" she tilted her head.
"Why do you persist?" Meteion asked once more. "I can feel the anguish deep inside you, the pain that makes every fibre of your being want to scream until nothing but a dull echo remains. I see the faces of your friends, each one another stab in your heart that shreds it to pieces. The bond you shared has turned into a burden upon your shoulders, threatening to crush you under a weight greater even than that of countless stars. And yet...you persist. Why?"
Why indeed?
Well, there were many reasons, but ultimately it all boiled down to one thing.
She rose up from the chair. "I gave a promise."
"Yes." The girl's eyes fluttered close. "I sense it now. The promise you made the person you love most. I can sense her love for you, too, resonating within the dynamis. But there is more. Another promise, that this would not be the end. Another, to always remember. And many more. I wonder..."
Meteion's eyes snapped back open.
"...how long it will take for you to break them."
And within the blink of an eye, she was gone.
S'eni exhaled through her nose and began searching for the twins. She found Alisaie at the edge of the island, standing on what looked like a broken road. "Alisaie," she called out, making the young woman turn around.
"S'eni, look at this. If the road was longer, we could make it to the dead sun," Alisaie said, tapping the toe of her boot on the road underneath. "We'd just have to reach that platform over there. But just like before the space here seems...contorted. No idea how to get past that even if we managed to build a bridge."
The Elezen sighed. "What about you? Found anything?"
"Nothing but empty cups and equally empty chairs," S'eni replied.
"Same here. A depressing sight." Alisaie crossed her arms, frowning. "Come, we've seen enough here. Let's find Alphinaud and compare what we've found."
Alphinaud, in turn, was located at the opposite end of the island, lost quite deep in thought until he noticed the two of them walking over. "Did you manage to find anything?" he asked.
"No," Alisaie replied. "The town is completely empty."
"Same as I, then. What are we supposed to do?" the thoughtful look returned to his face. "No life in sight, and neither a way off the island."
"Everywhere one looks are signs of daily life. It's as if everyone had been here then vanished from one moment to the next," Alisaie said.
"Yeah..." S'eni nodded.
Alisaie's face fell and she gently held a hand to her chest. "I wonder how many of these dead worlds Meteion must have encountered on her journey?"
Alphinaud was startled out of his musings at that and he looked at his sister. "Yes...that might be it. And yet, there still remains one who wished for this end."
"Meteion..." S'eni said. Of course. One of her sisters came across this star in the past. So it must be her that was barring them the way to their nest.
"...and I believe Alisaie and I can defeat her will."
"What?!" she immediately exclaimed. "No! I gave your parents my word that I would see you home safe!"
"I know that." He smiled sadly. "But I cannot ignore this chance. For the others...and myself as well. But I also have my fears. Not so much for myself but...for you instead."
The air left her, and she could only stare at him.
"It cannot be easy to carry this burden on your own, and you will feel its weight all the more once you are alone..." he blinked and averted his eyes slightly. "As your friend, I cannot bear the thought of how much we are making you suffer."
"No, I won't—!" Alisaie pressed through gritted teeth. "It's too much. How can we just leave her when she needs our help? Isn't she our friend!?"
A sob raked through the young woman's body and tears began to spill from her eyes. "She saved me...us...so many times already. Saved the world so many times. It's not fair..."
Alisaie...
Stepping up to his sister, Alphinaud placed his hands on her shoulders. "Alisaie, I have an idea. Given the nature of this place, we can accomplish much more than just opening a path for her."
Alisaie wiped away her tears and looked at him, a silent question in her reddened eyes. Alphinaud in turn smiled and squeezed her shoulders.
"Wherever she shall go, happiness shall await her. No matter the depths of our despair, I think we can believe this much with all our conviction," he said, before looking at S'eni. "So will you believe in us too, and forge ahead?"
"I..." Biting the inside of her cheek, she closed her eyes and gave him a solemn nod.
"Thank you...I knew you would." A sudden yelp escaped him when Alisaie suddenly grabbed one of his hands and yanked him in the direction of the plaza.
"Come!" she said. "Let's not dally. There's a world that needs saving!"
S'eni watched them go, her knuckles turning white as she balled her fists. They had made up their minds, and there was nothing she could do. Silently begging for their grandfather's forgiveness, she trailed after them, each of her steps feeling heavier than the last.
Meteion was standing where she had initially sent them off. She watched them impassively approach her then, and just as they came to a stop, tilted her head slightly. "Did you find anyone?"
"No. It is as you said. There is no one here," Alphinaud replied and his face hardened. "Except for you, Meteion!"
The girl's eyebrows rose ever so slightly.
"You said this star had already been dead upon your arrival. Just like us, this sight must have filled you with horror. All life wiped out from one moment to the next, it must have shaken you to the core. Yet you had no other choice but to deliver the sad news to Hermes." He frowned. "Your sisters, whose minds are connected to yours, did the very same one after another. Shocked by the sight of the demise of all these civilizations, you all fell into despair. You all were overcome by this emotion and caused the Final Days. Everyone who witnesses such suffering would come to the very same conclusion: at the end of this path lies nothing but death and destruction."
"How strange...I have felt the despair of so many stars, yet forgot that I once thought like this," Meteion mused.
"Meteion. If you can remember it, then there is still a chance to end it," he told her.
"Too late. The requiem of those who hate life and desire nothing more than the end have turned the river of my existence into nothing but a flood of mud. And no matter how much we would push against the tide, we are nothing in the face of this terrible truth." Within the blink of an eye, Meteion stood directly behind Alphinaud. "Like the Ea discovered, the universe will not last forever."
As both turned around, Meteion had once again shifted places to appear behind them, peering over her shoulder at them.
"One after another, every star will eventually succumb until only cold emptiness will remain." She now stood next to Alisaie, her voice softly lowering as if to whisper into her ear... "I have used dynamis to accelerate this process."
...only to appear near one of the buildings...
"So that the cycle of suffering may end and no further life is born."
...and underneath the tree-like monument...
"But eons would pass before that would happen. That is why we have ushered in the Final Days on Etheirys ahead of time. To spare life upon it needless suffering.'
...before returning back to standing right in front of the twins, her hands coming together in a praying gesture and a delighted look forming on her face. "So do not worry. Life will cease to exist. Even if none of you will be able to bear witness to it, we shall celebrate the end with our song."
A moment of utter silence followed in which Meteion and the twins stared at one another, until a snort from Alisaie tore it asunder. "You are capable of unbelievable things, and yet, for all your power, you're nothing but a coward. You were so afraid of what lay ahead, that you chose to destroy everything instead," she spat back. "But you know what, I understand you. We've all been at a point where we were nearly suffocating from fear. We fell, but always managed to get back up. It takes courage, and the will to accept help when needed. Only then can it be turned into strength."
"We have failed in the past. And there are wounds that never heal," Alphinaud added. "But we have grown from it. It is all part of life!"
Simultaneously, the two of them raised their hands, offering them to Meteion. And together, they spoke, "That is why we forge ever ahead!"
Meteion, whose expression had gone from delighted to impassive during the twins' speech, closed her eyes as black mist seeped from her very form, twisting and turning until she too turned into her bird form. And like with the others, she exploded into a violent storm that immediately engulfed the two of them. S'eni called out to them, but they simply glanced over their shoulders and smiled through the dark.
"Don't worry about us, S'eni," Alisaie said. "Go ahead, be it just one step!"
The storm imploded, taking Alphinaud and Alisaie with it. Her gaze remained on the spot where the two had stood until a sudden twinkle from out of the corner of her eyes made her look ahead, where a bright path formed from the broken road towards their goal. Her body began to shake, her nails digging so deep into her palms that they threatened to pierce the leather covering them, and she gritted her teeth.
She sunk to the ground and slammed her fist into it. Again. And again. And again. The sound of her punches broke through the absolute silence that surrounded her. Once again, the mind and heart screamed, begging her to let it all out. To give voice to all the anguish inside of her. And yet, she did not, despite the horrible truth weighing down upon her...
...she was all alone.
Shortly before in Sharlayan.
Day had long given way to night since S'eni and the others had left on the Ragnarok. While some who had seen them off had retired for the evening, many yet still remained standing here in front of the Rostra, their eyes drawn to the sky. Some silent, some murmuring words to each other, while others prayed. But all their thoughts were with their friends out there, fighting for the fate of their star at the edge of the universe.
Next to her, Krile heard Tataru pray to the gods to see their friends home safe, and she, too, offered the Twelve a silent prayer of her own. As she watched the stars, a sudden pain shot through her forehead, and she watched the sky turn into a sea of raining fire. Gritting her teeth, she could feel the heat and her ears were ringing with the distant echoes of—
"Krile, are you alright?" Tataru asked, placing a gentle hand on her back.
—Just like it appeared, the vision was gone again, leaving nothing but the calm evening sky. With an exhale, she turned to look at her friend and smiled. "It's nothing...I'm fine."
Furrowing her brows, she turned her eyes once again skyward. "Everything is going to be fine. I can feel it..."
So then why was there this feeling of...dread?
The sudden sound of footsteps, coming towards them at a fast pace, made her tear away from the sight and towards their source. It was the Worldly Affairs official from the day of their arrival. The woman came to a sudden stop, drawing the attention of everyone else towards her.
"M-my apologies. But a ship arrived just now. On board was..." She took a deep breath and straightened herself. "...someone seeking the Scions of the Seventh Dawn."
A puzzled look formed on Krile's face. Who could be looking for them at this time?
The answer to that question arrived in the form of another set of footsteps, slow and deliberate, making their way up to the Rostra. And when she saw who it was, all she could do was gasp. It couldn't be!
And then there was only one.