Alright folks, slight spoiler warning: this chapter will include smut, so for any of you that don't particularly enjoy that kinda stuff there will be a break line preceeding it so you can simply end the chapter there.
Now without further ado, let's begin.
Solace
Partings are part of life. Be it lifelong friends going their separate ways or a father dying surrounded by the people he loves, they are always profound and shape us.
And they are never easy.
When Master Louisoix died, all we had was the oath we had sworn together and the wise words he had taught us over the years.
"Every battle requires sacrifice, every victory has its price."
I have decided to walk this road a long time ago, and am ready to pay its toll.
For every ending, every parting, marks a new beginning.
A blanket of silky clouds covered the sky, blocking out what little light the pale, waning moon offered tonight. The ever-present sounds of the wildlife had given way to an eerie silence, and only the rustling of the leaves above kept S'eni company as she walked deep into the Central Shroud.
In the distance, the Aetheryte of Bentbranch Meadows served as a guiding light in the dark for every wanderer that found themselves in these parts of the woods, but she barely paid it any mind as her feet carried her across the Matron's Lethe.
Upon reaching the top, S'eni turned around and cast her eyes eastward, where even now thick clouds of smoke rose from the iron monstrosity that marked the border between the Black Shroud and Gyr Abania, Baelsar's Wall.
Illuminated clouds painted a ghostly shade of gold and blue that could be seen even from here, making it easy to spot the glowing sphere hovering above this monument of tyranny.
It was a sight that was all too familiar to her. She had seen it once before, on that night five years ago over the Carteneau Flats when it looked like the world was about to end.
Deep within this cocoon-like barrier of pure aether, a creature of hatred and destruction was being kept at bay but—
The leather of her gloves crunched as she balled shaking hands into fists.
—the price!
Gritting her teeth, S'eni whirled around and continued on her way with hastened steps.
Soon enough she found herself standing in the waters surrounding the ancient Guardian Tree, looking around the oldest arbor inside the Twelveswoods. The last time she had been here, she had felt n immense joy at the fact that Y'shtola had returned, but tonight...
Her eyes came to rest upon the tree itself and she started to slowly walk over to it. One of her hands reached out to place itself upon its bark. Even with her gloves on, S'eni could feel that it was strong and sturdy.
With blinding speed, she punched the tree with a force that would have knocked down lesser opponents with a single strike, yet did not even cause it to flinch.
Yes, it would do.
Another punch soon followed, and another, and another, increasing in speed and ferocity each.
Releasing a shout, she pulled her fist back—
A loud crack echoed through the air as her fist smashed into her opponent's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. The sword he had swung towards her just a second ago arched through the air before falling to the battlefield below.
Lowering her arms, she glared at the figure lying in front of her. It was none other than the leader of the Masks, the Griffin himself, Ilberd Feare.
She should have known his traitorous hide was behind this.
"Give up, Ilberd. You've lost!" she told him as he slowly pushed himself onto his knees, breath coming out in ragged gasps
"Hah, don't bother!" he spat, looking at her with absolute disdain in his eyes. "It's already too late. You can only watch while my plan comes to fruition."
Beneath them, the battle was coming to an end. The disguised Ala Mhigans were finishing off the last of the Magitek weapons the Garleans had stationed there and soon shouts of victory filled the air.
For a moment, S'eni thought that it was over, that they could take Ilberd into custody and somehow salvage this entire situation without any more bloodshed.
...then she saw the smirk on Ilberd's face and knew instantly that this was far from over. "What have you done!?"
But his smirk only grew. Instead, it was the metallic roar of Magitek that answered.
Her head snapped to the side and she could only watch as an Armored Weapon came running across the wall before jumping the celebrating Resistance members like a hungry predator.
Shouts of victory soon turned into ones of battle as the Ala Mhigans made for battle, but their valiant efforts were for naught as two more of these mechanical monsters soon joined the fray. Cries of pain joined the screeching of metal, creating a symphony of death that echoed through the air until only silence remained.
Eyes widening in horror, S'eni slowly let her gaze return to Ilberd.
Why...
"S'eni!" Papalymo's voice called out, making her glance over her shoulder to see him running towards her with Yda and Alphinaud at his side. "Thank the Twelve, you're alright!"
"Let's get out of here. Yugiri is calling the airship to pick us up," Alphinaud said.
Ilberd began to laugh, making her look back at him. "Who do we have here?" he asked while pushing himself back onto his feet. "If it isn't Commander Leveilleur."
"So you were the leader of the Masks!" The young Elezen stepped forward. "Stop this madness, Ilberd! Don't you see what you have done?! You claim to fight for freedom, but all you're doing is bring death. Tell your troops to retreat!"
"Retreat? At the moment of triumph?" Ilberd scoffed. "You're such a pathetic leader, Alphinaud."
His face splitting into a grin, Ilberd reached into the bag resting on his lower back and pulled out a pair of crimson eyeballs that S'eni had hoped to never see again.
"Nidhogg's eyes! But they vanished in the Sea of Clouds!" Alphinaud exclaimed. "Ilberd, don't! The power of dragons isn't meant for mortals."
"Spare me your words! Ala Mhigo has suffered enough. My brothers and sisters vegetate in the slums of Ul'dah. Just like the indifferent Eorzean's, they accepted their life in disgrace, forgot their pride!" the ice surrounding Nidhogg's eyes cracked a little under the force of his grip. "It was only thanks to Lolorito's money that a few of us had weapons to fight back at all. But I...I will give my people their pride back—no matter the cost. If the power inside these eyes is not for mortal hands, then I will cast aside my soul. Better to become a monster than to live in disgrace!"
"You can't be serious!"
"With the screams of those nobody wants to hear, with the longing of those that don't fear death, with our despair and the hate towards the Garleans, I will call upon a new god. A god without need for prayer!" Ilberd exclaimed.
"A god without need for prayer?" Papalymo asked.
"You want to fight the Garleans with a primal!?" Alphinaud yelled. "Don't be a fool, Ilberd. The cost is too high!"
"Not a primal—A force of nature stronger than any primal in existence. Stronger even than the black beast that brought about the Calamity." With a final, dark chuckle, Ilberd raised his hands as the aura of a thousand years of hatred started to melt away the ice.
"Not on my watch!" Yda exclaimed and dashed forward, raising her brass knuckles to strike at him. But before her blow could connect, Ilberd jumped away with a force that would impress even a Dragoon, landing gracefully on top of a nearby strut.
"For the freedom of Ala Mhigo and the end of Garlemald!" Ilberd shouted at the top of his lungs before jumping off. His mad laughter filled the air as he plunged to his death. Then, absolute silence.
For a moment, it seemed like nothing was happening when all of a sudden an explosion shot towards the sky, nearly knocking them all off their feet. A gasp escaped S'eni as she saw as it absorbed the aether of the corpses scattered all around the area, pooling together to form what looked like a pulsing egg suspended high above their heads, ready to give birth to a creature of pure destruction.
Alphinaud stared at it in horror. "By the gods..."
"His death completed the ritual," Papalymo said. "The primal is taking shape."
"Is there nothing we can do to stop it!?" Yda turned to face the Lalafel.
He paused for a moment before walking towards the edge. "There is one thing."
"What are you doing!?" she demanded.
"The seal that Master Louisoix used at Carteneau," he replied, voice growing resolute. "It's our only hope."
"That's impossible. We would need hours if not days to gather the necessary aether!" Alphinaud shouted.
"Ah, Alphinaud. Master Louisoix taught his finest student more than you know," Papalymo replied, reaching into his coat and pulling out the piece of Tupsimati that S'eni had entrusted him with.
"Papalymo, don't you dare. I know the seal's price!" Yda cried out.
A sound coming from the distance caught S'eni's ear and she turned to see the airship that Alphinaud had mentioned coming their way with Hilda, Yugiri, and Thancred aboard.
"It's time to leave!" the Au Ra called out as Hilda landed close by.
"Go!" Papalymo ordered. "Get to safety. The further away the better!"
Yda shook her head. "No. If you're staying, so am I!"
"Yda, there's a path you have to walk, and it must not end here. Not like this," the Lalafel told her. He cast his eyes toward them. "Get her away from here, please."
Before anyone could react, Thancred had jumped off the airship and threw Yda over his shoulder, carrying her kicking and screaming away from their friend. With a strangled sound, Alphinaud followed suit, leaving only Papalymo and S'eni behind.
"Go, S'eni. This is a battle you can't win!" his voice breached no argument.
Upon hearing his words, an image flashed before her mind's eye; of a man that had given the last of his power to get her to safety and did so with a grandfatherly smile on his face.
"Forget it," she said with a shake of her head. "I'm not letting you do this alone!"
"I knew you would say that..." he muttered.
His arm jerked upward and a bolt of lightning shot forth, hitting her squarely in the chest and flinging her through the air towards the airship. A pained gasp escaped her as she landed on the deck.
"Hilda, get us out of here!" Thancred shouted.
Pushing herself onto her elbows, S'eni could do nothing but watch as the sealing spell started to take shape around the yet-to-be-born primal, trapping it underneath layer upon layer of ancient magic.
And as the distance to Baelsar's Wall grew, she knew that she had just lost another friend.
Papalymo was gone.
With a final shout, S'eni's fists slammed into the Guardian Tree and remained there, watching as drops of blood cascaded down the bark and seeped into the ground. Her breath came out in ragged gasps and she had to grit her teeth at the pain shooting up her trembling arms.
Slowly, she pulled her hands back, a sharp hiss escaping her as she uncurled them. The leather of her gloves was ripped apart, exposing bloody knuckles that pulsed with her heartbeat.
Her ears shot up at the sound of steps in the water. Any other time she might have been alarmed, but she knew exactly who this was and so simply closed her eyes.
"Did you really follow me all the way out here?" she asked, voice utterly tired.
"I was worried. You might fool the others by putting on a brave front, and I commend you for doing so, but you can't fool me."
"Lucky me." She heard Y'shtola's steps approach her through the water, but didn't turn to face her until the other woman practically demanded her doing so, hands immediately taking hold of hers to remove her gloves and inspect beaten and bruised knuckles.
"You probably made the Elementals quite angry with that outburst," her friend said, her hands starting to glow in that tell-tale way of a cure spell.
"They can get in line."
"Eni..."
"What!?" S'eni scowled. "Forgive me, but I just lost another friend only a few bells ago!"
Y'shtola didn't answer, focusing her attention on mending her wounds instead. After she had done so, S'eni pulled her hands away.
"I'm just—" she let out a weary sigh. "I'm just so tired... Tired of losing people."
"I understand, believe me, I do."
S'eni didn't answer and instead looked at her hand. One by one, the images of the people she had lost were flashing in her mind, each another knife that wedged itself deep into her heart.
A hand placed itself onto her shoulder and her head jerked into the direction of her friend, looking at her with a concerned look.
"Shtola, I—" she broke off as her throat seized up, eyes burning with unshed tears. Without thinking, she rushed forward and buried her face into the other Miqo'te's shoulder.
Y'shtola let out a gasp of surprise at the sudden contact and S'eni felt her stiffen as the dam she had tried to hold together up until now finally broke. Only when her fingers started to dig deep into the white fabric of her friend's coat did Y'shtola start to move again, arms shifting to pull her closer while her head came to rest against S'eni's.
It felt good, to finally let it all out. All the pain and anguish that she had buried deep inside of her because she needed to be strong, a hero, was washed away by hot tears and with every minute that passed, the burden that had threatened to crush her under its weight became lighter and lighter, until her sobs finally subsided.
She let herself remain in Y'shtola's arms for a moment longer, before slowly pulling back and giving her a watery smile, brushing the last few droplets out of her face. "I'm sorry. I know crying won't change anything."
"But it made you feel better, didn't it?"
"Yeah..." S'eni nodded. "Thank you, Shtola."
The smile that formed on Y'shtola's lips made her want to say so much more but...not here...
"I-I think we should head back."
"And I think you're right." Y'shtola chuckled, then reached a hand out to brush a strand of hair out of S'eni face. "There. Can't have the Warrior of Light return all dishevelled now, can we?"
Blinking once, twice, S'eni looked at her friend, before chuckling as well. "I suppose you're right."
Together, they left the Evershade, heading back towards Gridania in comfortable silence. Just as they were about to enter through the gate, S'eni stopped to look eastward one final time, silently vowing that she wouldn't let Papalymo's death be in vain, before heading into town.
Being as late as it was, it was no surprise that nobody was out and about, but with the threat looming nearby it felt even more empty than usual, and if not for the soft sound of the wind and the gentle flow of the water, there would be nothing but silence.
Entering the Carline Canopy, they made for the Roost. There they found the person manning the night desk having nodded off and, sharing a shrug, decided to be as silent as possible as they climbed the stairs.
"Well, here we are," S'eni said once they reached Y'shtola's room.
"That we are."
Neither of them moved from their spot, simply looking at one another. S'eni once again could only wonder how it had taken so long for her to realize how utterly beautiful Y'shtola was, and she found herself reminded of the words that F'lhaminn had told her what felt like a lifetime ago, but had not even been a day ago.
Yet as her lips parted, she found herself unable to say the words she wanted to say. Exhaling through her nose, she averted her eyes.
"We should get some sleep. Good night," she said hastily, whirling around to leave for her room, but was stopped by a hand grasping her own. Slowly, S'eni turned around once more to see Y'shtola fixing her with an intent look. "Shtola?"
Silvery white eyes lowered themselves to their hands for a moment, before coming to rest on cherry pink ones.
"Whenever things become too much to bear," Y'shtola said, gently running a thumb over her knuckles. "I want you to share that burden with me."
S'eni stared at her friend, eyes widened in surprise as her heart started to beat like a drum. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, but she didn't know what to say. So she didn't and instead simply stepped forward, pulling Y'shtola close and resting their foreheads together. The other woman's breath tickled her face, making her close her eyes.
Her lips screamed out, begging her to just take that final step, but she managed to stop herself to offer one final chance of retreat. "Please stop me before I do something stupid."
She did not need to see to know that Y'shtola's lips were forming a smile. "And what if I don't want you to stop?"
Breathing out a laugh, S'eni closed the gap. "I'll do this," she whispered, capturing Y'shtola's lips in a kiss.
It was slow and gentle, like petals brushing against skin, yet made her senses still go alight in a rush of pleasant warmth that left her fingers tingling as they cupped Y'shtola's cheek.
Soon enough, their lips became bolder, seeking more and more of one another as their kiss deepened and S'eni couldn't help the moan that escaped her at the arm that wound itself around her waist, slowly pulling her along until the other woman was resting against the door.
Breaking the kiss, they stared at one another through half-lidded eyes as Y'shtola reached behind herself and opened the door, before leading them both inside.
The door had barely closed when their mouths came crashing back onto one another's, and this time it was Y'shtola who moaned as S'eni slipped her tongue past eager lips to invite hers to a sensual dance. A surprised noise escaped the other woman when she whirled them around and pushed her against the wall next to the door, causing the plants decorating it to shake violently.
"Shtola..." S'eni murmured against Y'shtola's lips, reaching a hand out to undo the clasp that kept her coat closed and pushing it open, granting her access to a slender neck that she wasted no time to bury her face into, trailing kisses and little bites all across the tattoo that covered a good portion of it and eliciting the sweetest of sounds out of her.
Fingers burying themselves into her hair, S'eni found herself pulled back and into another short, hungry kiss, before being pushed away slightly. "This—" Y'shtola murmured through kiss swollen lips while reaching out towards the front of S'eni's jacket and started to undo the buttons one by one, "—needs to be off."
As soon as the garment had hit the floor, the other Miqo'te started to remove her coat, letting it slide off her body and revealing the dark top that hugged her curves in just the right ways underneath.
A heated chuckle escaped her as she spotted two rather noticeable outlines on the fabric and she moved in once more, meeting Y'shtola's lips halfway. Her fingers started to roam across the hem of the top, playfully letting the tips dip underneath before pulling away again.
S'eni hummed deep in her throat when she felt Y'shtola's hand wander across her torso, gently raking her nails across her side and ribs before moving down. Her breath hitched as warm fingers slipped underneath the waistband of her pants and a moan soon ripped through her when the other Miqo'te started to caress her through the thin fabric.
Breaking away from the kiss, she pushed her fingers underneath Y'shtola's top and pulled it high above her breasts, freeing them from their confines and revealing them in all their luscious glory.
The other woman let out a breathy sigh as a trail of butterfly kisses was planted all over her bosom, leaving not a single part untouched until there were only her nipples left, eagerly waiting for their turn.
"Yes..." Throwing her head back, Y'shtola released a moan of delight when S'eni's lips closed around a hardened, dark brown nub and she started to flick the tip of her tongue across it. "Eni..."
The sound of her name on those beautiful lips made her groan out and push her hips forward to grind herself against Y'shtola's fingers, but all it did was only stroke the fire burning deep inside of her.
Gods, she needed more!
Stepping backwards, S'eni somehow managed to guide them towards the bed even with her face pushed into a smooth pair of breasts, sending a silent prayer towards Menphina that all the rooms of the Roost were arranged similarly. They tumbled on top of the bed in a pile of limbs and their lips met in another deep, almost desperate kiss, before pulling apart.
One by one their clothes were abandoned, discarded onto the ground without a care. As soon as the last piece of constrictive underwear had been removed, S'eni turned her attention back towards the other woman, having just managed to pull off her second boot. Y'shtola's hands were just going towards her shorts when S'eni jumped forward and tackled her onto the mattress, hovering over her like a hungry predator and letting her eyes roam.
From that pretty face framed by white hair, down her shapely curves, towards that part of her body that yet remained hidden from her eyes, and back up again where she was greeted by a playful little smile.
"Is it all you hoped it would be?" Y'shtola asked, causing the corners of S'eni's lips to curl upward.
"That. And more," she breathed out.
"Hm. I have to say I like what I'm seeing too." The other Miqo'te hummed, reaching a hand out to cup one of her breasts and earning herself a little moan, before moving higher and letting it come to rest on her cheek. "I believe I'm quite lucky."
Placing a kiss into the palm of Y'shtola's hand, S'eni lowered herself on top of her and claimed her lips once more. Slow and sensual, it was no less passionate than their last kisses. Hardened nipples dug into soft skin as they rubbed against each other, the noises they produced becoming the song to which their tongues danced.
They pulled apart with a little smack, a thin string of saliva between them that glistened in what little light the lanterns outside the windows were offering, and she looked at her newfound lover with heavy eyelids; a silent promise of what was to come. Sparks of excitement shot through her spine right up to the tip of her tail at the way Y'shtola bit her lip in response.
Slowly, ever slowly, S'eni travelled downward, taking her time to adore every inch of skin on her way, stopping only to give each nipple a teasing suck before moving on again, not even speeding up as the heat between her legs became almost impossible to bear.
No, she wanted this to last, to savor every last second of it.
Eventually, a pair of black shorts entered her vision and she slid her hands down Y'shtola's sides, making her raise her hips and adjust her tail as fingers curled underneath their waistband and started to pull down.
S'eni swiftly discarded them like the rest of their clothes and returned her attention to the task at hand. Y'shtola's legs parted in invitation as she started to plant kisses on the inside of her thighs, revealing to her glistening folds crowned by carefully trimmed white curls that contrasted beautifully with her brown skin.
Stopping just shy of her sex, cherry pink eyes darted up to seek out silvery-white ones, holding her gaze for an agonizingly long moment before finally moving in.
Moans of pleasure filled the room as the tip of her tongue brushed across sensitive flesh, every single one of them urging her on further and further. A pair of feet came to rest upon her back, gently keeping her in place and caressing her while she lavished the other woman with affection.
"Eni..." Y'shtola managed to say, pushing her trembling hips forward and gripping the sheets tightly, but S'eni barely registered it as she started to lose herself to that one, singular goal, striding towards it with every lick and stroke.
Fingers digging into soft skin, S'eni held Y'shtola in place when she started to shake all over and her voice rose higher with every second, heralding her approaching climax. She couldn't help a little smirk forming on her lips and shifted upward, focusing all of her attention to that sweet spot to drive her lover closer to the edge.
And with one, final brush, Y'shtola seized up, toes curling and back arching as her name passed those lips one last time before being drowned in ecstasy.
Never had her name sounded any sweeter than in this moment.
S'eni didn't let up, wanting to prolong Y'shtola's orgasm for as long as possible. Even after it had subsided, she continued for a little bit longer until she had her fill before crawling back up and watching as the other woman was slowly catching her breath.
Eyes cracking open, Y'shtola gave her a tired but very much satisfied smile.
"Enjoyed that, I take it?" she asked.
"Very much so," Y'shtola replied, snaking a hand around the back of her neck and pulling her in for a kiss, tongues immediately seeking out one another to resume their dance.
A jolt of surprise went through S'eni when she found herself flipped around, but it only lasted for a second as soft fingers closed around one of her breasts and gave it a firm squeeze.
Breaking their kiss again, Y'shtola slipped off to give herself better access and leaned in close to S'eni's ear, her hot breath causing it to twitch.
"Your turn," her lover whispered, brushing a finger against the pink nipple that ached for attention and drawing a gasp out of her. She repeated the motion a few times before releasing her grip and letting her hand start its journey downward, warm fingertips leaving a tingling trail in their wake that made the little hairs on S'eni's arms stand on end and caused a shiver of excitement to go through her.
Her legs parting almost on their own, S'eni watched in anticipation as Y'shtola's palm passed over blonde curls and dipped downward.
"Enjoy..." Y'shtola breathed out, slipping two fingers past velvety folds. S'eni's eyes slammed shut, lips parting as a moan ripped through her at the sensation of being filled, and she buried her face into the other woman's neck.
Gods, it truly had been a while.
They remained like this for a moment, letting her get used to the feeling before Y'shtola started to move her fingers in a slow and even rhythm, gently massaging her insides. Every stroke sent sparks of pleasure up her spine, making her tail twitch.
Planting a kiss on top of her head, the other Miqo'te started to speed up her rhythm, drawing out further sounds of pleasure from her.
"Shto...la," S'eni managed to say between moans, hand grasping Y'shtola's arm and her mind growing fuzzy as a thumb moved to gently rub against her sweet spot.
Soft words entered her ears but she couldn't make any of them out, the last vestiges of reason leaving her while she inched closer and closer to that feeling of pure bliss that welled up inside of her, turning them all into white noise. All, except one.
"Eni." Thick with desire and affection, it was the final push she needed to truly come apart. A cry of ecstasy tore through her as she came, immediately swallowed by a pair of lips pressing down upon hers, and her body began to shake while waves of orgasmic pleasure washed over her. Wrapping her free arm around her, Y'shtola pulled S'eni close, holding her tight until her spasms started to subside.
They kissed for a few moments longer, before pulling apart and simply holding one another. Neither said a word, but they both shared a loving smile as they nestled deep into the blanket and somehow managed to share the pillow.
As they leaned back into one another, tails wrapping around the other's, S'eni let herself immerse herself in that feeling of happiness and, even if only for a short, fleeting moment, pretended that the world was alright.
Well, here we are. When I set out to write this story, this part was one of the first that I planned out. From the very beginning, Papalymo's death was meant to serve as a catalyst for them to get together. I can only hope it's as enjoyable to read as it was to write. But don't worry, the story is far from over.
So until then, have a good one!