Pleasant Company
The Answering Quarter, as Y'shtola had once told her, was the center of education and other scholarly pursuits back when the people of Sharlayan had still resided here. Much of its former glory had been lost, but there was still knowledge to be found and secrets to be uncovered in these abandoned halls.
And even if she would hardly call herself a scholar by any stretch of the imagination, S'eni could feel a certain luster coming from this place on some days.
A crack of thunder rang out in the sky above, making her look up just in time for a drop of water hitting her right between her eyes. She blinked and for a moment nothing happened before an endless cascade of rain followed that left her soaked to the bone within seconds.
Today wasn't one of those days.
With a groan from deep within her soul, she continued to walk up the path leading to Idyllshire.
She had just passed underneath the Cenotaph into the town proper when the sound of laughing children echoed her way and she turned her head to see three of them running down the street. As they passed by her, one of them jumped into the puddle that had gathered right in front of her and splashed her for good measure.
Well, I guess I can't get any wetter than this...
"Stop running! You might hurt yourself," a voice called out and S'eni saw a Miqo'te woman walking towards her with hurried steps. It was Zhloe Aliapoh, the owner of the local orphanage, Menphina's Arms, which she had opened after working off her debt to Rowena.
Upon spotting her, Zhloe halted in her steps, a friendly smile that revealed her fangs forming on her lips. "Oh hello, S'eni. How are—" she paused when she took in her appearance. "Oh my, are you alright?"
Aside from being thoroughly soaked, her clothes were also dirtied and torn in a few places, and her hair was disheveled enough that even the rain did not seem to be able to put in place.
"Been better," S'eni said. Not willing to elaborate, she changed the topic. "How's Menphina's Arms doing?"
When S'eni had first met the woman, things hadn't looked good and the orphanage had been on the cusp of closing, but the wish to create a place of safety and love for children, that had no one else, made her persevere. Now Zhloe was keeping the place afloat by using the skills she had learned at the House of Splendors to sell rarities all over Eorzea, with just a tiny smidgen of help from her.
"We're doing good!" Zhloe replied, cheering up even more and brushing a wet strand of hair out of her face. "Actually I had another idea that I might need your help with but I really need to go, so another time?"
"Yeah, another time," she agreed.
Giving her a friendly wave, the former trader turned to walk over to the playing children, calling out their names to get their attention. S'eni watched her for a moment, before continuing onward.
It was easy enough to find her target. Not only was Midnight Dew rather tall, but Sawney was also already standing with her, his bright, rather poofy hairstyle standing out amidst the rain.
"Ah, and there she is," he said as S'eni approached. "If not for her we wouldn't have been able to acquire our treasure."
"S'eni!" the Roegadyn woman said, a wide grin splitting her face and she raised her hand in greeting. "Of course it was you. Who else would've been able to manage where some of our best were having a tough time."
S'eni simply hummed, partly glad the other woman didn't comment on her appearance. Earlier she had been approached by a group of treasure hunters to help their venture into Saint Mocianne's Arboretum to retrieve an especially valuable treasure for the people of Idyllshire and, being who she was, had accepted.
In the end, it had boiled down to her and some fellow adventurers playing decoy for the wildlife that had taken over the abandoned halls.
And by the gods, there was a lot of it!
"So what's this treasure you were looking for?" she asked after looking between the two of them.
His lips forming a wide grin, Sawney reached into his pockets and pulled out two bags, filled to the brim with—
Her eyebrows shot up. "Seeds?"
"Not just any seeds. These are crops the sages cultivated especially for this area," he told her. "With these, we should be able to secure a steady supply."
Sawney turned towards Morning Dew. "I should get started on planting them. So if you'll excuse me."
S'eni watched him leave in silence, not knowing what to say to that.
"Thank you for helping us," Morning Dew said, making S'eni look at her. The former treasure hunter clapped her on the shoulder. "Tell you what, as soon as the first harvest is ready I'll let you know. We can sample it together."
Closing her eyes for a moment, she sighed through her nose, before letting her lips curl upward. "I'd like that."
She worked hard for this, might as well take her up on the offer.
"That's the spirit!"
"Have you seen Shtola?" she asked after receiving another clap on the shoulder.
"Y'shtola? Last I saw she was at the House of Splendors."
"Thanks." Giving the woman a wave goodbye, S'eni made her way to Idyllshire's branch of Rowena's ever-growing business.
A breath of relief escaped her as she stepped inside, happy to be out of the rain. Raising her tail, she started to shake herself to free it of the water it had involuntarily soaked up, spraying it all over the stone walls, before walking further inside.
She found Y'shtola sitting at one of the tables, reading a book. But what really caught her eyes was the half-eaten piece of cake resting on a plate in front of her lover, the strawberry on top looking ever so inviting.
"Ah, there you are," Y'shtola noted as S'eni sat down in the chair opposite of her, turning a page. "I was wondering where you were."
"Let's just say something came up," she replied.
"Oh?" Looking up from her book, the other Miqo'te's eyebrows furrowed as she took in her appearance. "You look dreadful."
"Thanks. I feel dreadful too." A wry smile formed on her lips and she reached across the table to take hold of the fork, cut off a considerable chunk of the cake with it and guide it to her lips, letting out a little coo at the taste. After swallowing, she placed the fork back.
"What happened?"
"Saint Mocianne's Arboretum happened. But I don't really want to talk about it," S'eni said and closed her eyes as she leaned back in her chair.
"Are you alright?" A note of concern entered her lover's voice, making her smile turn more genuine.
"Just tired, is all," she assured her. "How are things on your end?"
"We're almost done," Y'shtola replied.
The reason they were here at all was to take care of what was left of the Illuminati in the area after the whole Alexander situation. They had been asked to assist the local adventurers in this endeavor because they already had ties with the community and as a Sharlayan herself, Y'shtola could give them information on any potential findings they might make.
And since the Alliance was still preparing their move into Gyr Abania, they were left with time to spare, as frustrating as that was.
"With the Arkhitekton now free, I sincerely doubt the Illuminati will stick around for much longer and simply cut their losses to cause trouble somewhere else," the other Miqo'te told her. "This book is actually from there."
Cracking an eye open, S'eni looked at the book Y'shtola was holding up. "A book on the nature of Aetheryte's?" she asked.
"Indeed. Not an especially rare find, mind you, but still interesting. You should give it a read sometime."
She shook her head. "Thanks, but I doubt I'll even understand half of what's written in it."
"I disagree," Y'shtola said. "You're more intelligent than you give yourself credit for."
"Still, me? A scholar?" S'eni asked, closing her eyes again and lowering her head to rest on the table. "No, that ship sailed a long time ago."
The table vibrated slightly as the book was placed on top of it, soon followed by a warm hand coming to rest on her hair. She couldn't help that little purr from deep within as a finger started to rub behind her ear.
"What would the Alliance think if they saw the mighty Warrior of Light brought to her knees by a single, bad day?" Y'shtola asked with warm amusement.
"Warrior of what?" S'eni asked right back, letting out a little chuckle. "I need a break."
"Then I suppose we shall call it a day."
"Yay..."
"In fact, I just had a thought of something that might help you relax." Hearing her lover's words, she lifted her head off the table to look at the other woman.
"And what would that be?"
Instead of replying with words, Y'shtola picked up the fork, speared the strawberry with it, and put it into her mouth, smiling as she chewed.
When Y'shtola had said she thought of something to relax, S'eni had expected a nice hot bath and afterwards simply lounging around the bed together until they fell asleep. She had received the first, thanks in no small part to the Goblins having worked day in and out to provide the settlement with warm water, but instead of a bed, Y'shtola and her had left Idyllshire as soon she had bought a new change of clothes from Rowena.
Thankfully, the rain had broken by then and now they were standing in front of the rock formation that was hiding the entrance to a certain Archon's cave.
"Can't say I expected this," S'eni said.
"You were the one that suggested we should have tea with her," Y'shtola replied with a shrug.
"That's true, I suppose..." she watched as the other woman reached a hand out and muttered something underneath her breath, causing the rocks to move aside and reveal to them the way into Matoya's abode.
As soon as they had stepped inside, the rocks slipped back into place, making sure that no one uninvited would bother them.
The irony that they were most likely uninvited themselves was not entirely lost on her.
Walking deeper into the cave, S'eni could hear a sigh echoing their way, followed by the slow, rhythmic tap of the old woman's staff on the wooden floor, and she could practically hear the rolling of her eyes within it.
Master Matoya awaited them at the large desk that seemed to be the center of this very cave. The books that were scattered around it the last time she was here were still lying around carelessly, and she had to pay attention not to step onto them. No need to draw even more ire from the old witch.
"Oh for the love of—" Matoya said, voice scratchy from old age and years of shouting at her fellows. "Can't an old woman have some peace and quiet these days?"
"You had over a decade to yourself," Y'shtola pointed out.
"And I'm starting to miss those years dearly." The old woman's eyes shifted over to S'eni.
"It's been a while, Master Matoya," she said in a friendly tone and, since the flight part of her fight or flight reflex had long since died a hero's death, couldn't help but add, "You shouldn't get so agitated at your age. It's not good for your heart."
Y'shtola snickered into her hand while Matoya glared at her in a way that told her, that if the Archon was a few decades younger, she would be receiving far, far worse than a simple tongue lashing. After she apparently had her fill of imagining S'eni to combust, the old woman released another sigh.
"Hmpf. So what is it this time, Shtola?" Matoya asked again.
"Actually, we are just visiting," Y'shtola replied and placed a hand on S'eni's shoulder. "Eni mentioned some time ago that you were rather vexed at the fact that no one ever comes around for tea. And though the reasons for why that is are plenty indeed, here we are."
For a moment Matoya actually looked taken aback, but her face soon returned to the perpetual scowl that was most likely the cause for many of those wrinkles.
"Impertinent as ever, I see. Fine, tea it is." The old Archon tapped her staff onto the ground and a pair of Poroggo's came hopping towards them. Without having to tell them, they started moving some of the scattered books aside and fetched two more chairs that they placed at the table before scurrying off once again.
"Shtola," Matoya said just as they were sitting down, making the other Miqo'te stop. "You remember where the stove is, I take it?"
Raising her eyebrows, Y'shtola looked at her former teacher, before shrugging. "How could I forget?"
Her lover shot her a quick glance, before heading towards the part of the cave where presumably the kitchen was.
Now alone, Matoya and S'eni stared at one another, neither saying a word, with only the sound of one of the magical brooms sweeping across the floor breaking the silence. As the seconds stretched into minutes, the older woman's fingers started to drum on top of the table, the expression on her face becoming thoughtful.
"So you and her, hm?" It wasn't a question.
S'eni blinked. "Come again?"
"You can spare me the act. I know what's going on between you two." Matoya rolled her eyes.
Upon hearing those words, a frown formed on her features. Had Y'shtola told her?
No. They had explicitly agreed to keep their relationship a secret for now. There was already enough going on without having to burden the others with the nature of their feelings for one another.
"How?" she asked.
"Hmpf, did you think I wouldn't notice when I've known Shtola since she was a little stray?" Matoya shot back. "The first time you two walked in here I could already see that annoying spark between you, and now she calls you 'Eni' in front of me. Shtola isn't one to drop tribal letters so casually."
"Oh..." That made sense, she supposed. It would be weird if Matoya didn't pick up on subtleties like that with her favorite student.
"She used to be such a shy one when she was younger, and now here she is, a fine young woman, with even someone walking by her side." The old Archon let her gaze wander in the direction of where Y'shtola had vanished to, letting it linger there for a few seconds before returning it towards S'eni. Narrowing her eyes a little, Matoya gave her a once over. "I suppose she could do worse. At least you're not a dunderhead like most."
"Uh, thank you?"
"Believe me, it's a compliment," Matoya replied, the wrinkly corner of one of her lips rising.
S'eni stared at the older woman, a dumbfounded look on her face. It took her a moment to recover from the fact that she was having a talk like this with Master Matoya of all people, but soon enough she mirrored the older woman's expression.
"Are you now going to tell me to take care of and to never hurt her, or else?" she asked.
The old woman snorted. "No. As reckless as that stubborn girl can be, she can take care of herself, and I expect her very much to make you regret any foolish decisions as well."
"Yeah," S'eni chuckled. "She would absolutely do that."
"Absolutely do what?" Y'shtola asked, returning from wherever Matoya kept her kitchen, holding a tray with a steaming pot of tea and cups for each of them.
"Nothing that concerns you," Matoya said. "Took you long enough."
Y'shtola cocked her eyebrow in a clear sign of disbelief, then shot S'eni a questioning look only to receive a little smile and shrug in her return.
"What little was left of your tea has seen better days. Fortunately for you, I always have some of my personal stash with me," the other Miqo'te said, placing the tray on the table and pouring each of them a cup before sitting down next to S'eni.
"Hmpf, let's see if it's any good then," the old Archon replied as gnarly fingers took hold of her cup.
With tea now served, they fell into pleasant conversation, as pleasant as they could be with Matoya anyway, who wasted no opportunity to throw in comments as they shared stories with her.
Once in a while, S'eni could feel the old witch's eyes coming to rest on her as they talked, and if she didn't know any better, she could have sworn to see something akin to approval in them.
Probably just her imagination, though.
Matoya cleanses the soul, doesn't she?
Anyway, I figured I wouldn't immediately jump into Stormblood and did a couple of sort of interludes I suppose? You know a bit more light hearted character interaction before things are getting serious again. Hope you'll enjoy them.
Have a nice weekend!