Beq Lugg
After the Light was vanquished, Norvrandt entered a short period of peace. Time in which our hero and her companions could rest from the strenuous journey they all undertook. But soon enough, grave tidings arrived from the Source; signs of instability in the Scions' souls, a possibility that never occurred to me at the time of their summoning.
As we deliberated to find a solution, Urianger suggested the method of the white Auracite to house their souls so that they could safely be carried back home. But for that, we needed a way for their souls to safely return to their bodies.
By a stroke of luck, I knew of someone that might be of assistance. A Nu Mou of rather solitary mind.
G'raha Tia, the Crystal Exarch.
Wood creaked underneath their feet as they walked along Sullen's pier. It was a beautiful day in Lakeland, the sun was shining, the trees were dancing in the light wind and even the vegetation on Bismarck, having returned to slumber at what she assumed was his favourite spot, seemed a bit brighter today.
It was the kind of day one would rather spend relaxing or doing other pleasant things. But for them—
S'eni looked between Alisaie, Alphinaud and Y'shtola, letting her eyes come to rest upon the latter.
—time didn't permit such things.
The other Miqo'te turned her head. "What is it?"
"You don't look particularly phased about what I told you all," she replied.
"That's because worrying won't do us much good." Y'shtola raised her shoulders in a little shrug. "Like or not, all we can do right now is focus all our efforts to find a solution before it gets worse."
"Yeah," S'eni sighed. "I guess you're right."
Her lover stepped a little closer and gave her a smile. "Though your concern is very appreciated."
She mirrored the expression and parted her lips when a voice greeted them. "Ah, there you are."
Turning her head, she saw G'raha Tia up ahead, standing near a boat that would carry them to their destination.
"Exarch," Alphinaud greeted him back. For some reason, her friend seemed to prefer being called by his title after all these years rather than his name. "Everything is ready, I take it?"
G'raha nodded. "When you are ready, we will ride it to the opposite shore."
"Strange," Y'shtola murmured, looking out into the distance. "I see nothing but empty sky..."
"Maybe it's hidden somehow?" she murmured right back. If it was, then that must mean this mage they were seeking truly was powerful. Just who was this Nu Mou?
"Now, as I have told you before, I had barely stepped on palace grounds when I was set upon by our host's familiars, and I expect our reception today to be any different," G'raha said. "Which is why I propose we march right through the main gate, weapons drawn."
Alisaie blinked and crossed her arms. "I'm sorry, but aren't we here to petition for assistance? You can't honestly think barging in looking for a fight is going to persuade them."
"Actually, I believe the Exarch is right," Y'shtola said. "They have no doubt poured a great deal of time and energy into their creations. Were I them, I would be most interested to meet with those who could overcome my defenses."
"As would any true seeker of knowledge. And there's little we can say or do to convince them to help us if we know nothing of their character, nor why they chose to hide themself from the world." G'raha turned his attention towards S'eni and punched his palm enthusiastically. "But if we can pique their interest, perhaps we can earn ourselves an audience."
"Go in and make a large enough ruckus to get their attention," she said with a small chuckle. "Sounds simple enough."
"Weapons drawn it is, then," the young woman said with a sigh. A smile then crossed her lips. "Though I must say, Exarch, you certainly seem to be enjoying all of this."
Looking quite surprised at Alisaie's words, he gave S'eni a quick glance before saying, "Do I? Well, I won't deny that I enjoy the thought of fighting alongside you all rather than pacing around inside the Crystal Tower."
"You both seem to be in rather high spirits, if you ask me," Alphinaud then said. "Not that I'm surprised. Your moods seem to always improve when S'eni is around."
Almost instantly, Alisaie was in her brother's face. "What exactly are you implying!?"
G'raha's response was just as quick. "She averted a Calamity, and the Light which seemed destined to consume her has been extinguished. It's only natural we would be pleased to see her."
"Yes, well," Y'shtola said, stepping a little closer to S'eni. "You will have plenty of time to celebrate her good health after we've finished here."
Her lover's voice was laced in dry teasing, an equal teasing smile on her face, but there was also a slight edge to it that made her take a little step to the side.
"O-Of course." G'raha cleared his throat. "Let's proceed to the palace then."
Getting in the boat, they pushed off the pier and began to make their way across the lake towards the distant shore. Yet no matter how close they got, there were absolutely no signs of any palace. Then, from one moment to the next, the air around them began to ripple as they passed through an unseen barrier.
"Wait for it..." G'raha murmured.
Like a heavy fog lifting in the early morning, a great palace revealed itself to them, grander than anything she had ever seen. A true testament to the splendor of the Elves that once reigned over Lakeland. But instead of nobles and kings, only a single mage now resided there, having claimed these empty halls as their own together with all sorts of familiars.
"Sure beats living in a cave," she said, drawing a chuckle from Y'shtola.
They arrived at another pier that clearly had seen better days and, after fastening the boat to it, began to make their way over to the palace front. Stopping in front of a large set of doors, she let her eyes roam over its fine craftsmanship. The gold had obviously lost some of its lustre, but it was still a sight to behold.
S'eni glanced over her shoulder at the others. "Well, let's head in then."
But when she put her hands on the wood and gave it a shove, it wouldn't budge an inch even after multiple attempts.
"Hmm. Strange," G'raha commented, rubbing his chin with his crystalline hand. "The last time I was here it opened without any problems. Perhaps an enchantment. May I?"
"Go ahead."
He tried to open it as well, with the same results, then began to speak a few words in Fae. While the words sounded quite melodious, they didn't offer the desired effect either. He was just reaching for his staff, when Y'shtola brushed past him, raised her hand, and simply knocked.
A few seconds passed before a loud click could be heard from within.
S'eni blinked. "Huh."
"A simple matter of manners, it seems," Y'shtola said while turning towards her. "Lead the way, O Warrior of Darkness."
Placing her hands on the doors again, she looked at her companions again, who each gave her a nod, then began to push.
Time to meet this hermit mage.
As it turned out, there was not even a hint of hyperbole in what G'raha had told them. No sooner had they stepped inside, their host had arrived to tell them to leave before siccing their familiars on them. A warm welcome indeed.
In the end, they had managed to beat all of their familiars, impressing them enough to at least hear them out. Beq Lugg, as they were called, had refused at first, citing that their knowledge had wrought more than enough horror already, but eventually they had given in and joined them all in the Crystarium.
There, G'raha had told them all about their journey and how they all hailed from another world, which made finally convinced Beq Lugg to lend their aid. Fitting payment for saving the world as the Nu Mou would say. They proceeded explain to them, that while White Auracite was a way to carry their souls back to the Source, it failed to account for their current state of their souls.
"In order to maintain a corporeal form, your souls constantly draw aether from your surroundings. This process must be halted, and the resulting surfeit of aether removed," Beq Lugg had explained. "Your minds would ultimately be separated from these faux bodies of yours, rendering you incapable of interacting with the world around you. A cruel fate under normal circumstances, but one which will be rectified upon your return home."
Those words had immediately brought the people from the Inn at Journey's Head to mind, prompting the Nu Mou to wish to see them to see if they could possibly aid them. Alisaie, eager to help those she had come to greatly care about in her time here, had swiftly agreed.
And now, as she stepped out of the Ocular, S'eni couldn't help but audibly sigh through her nose.
"Something amiss?" Y'shtola asked, who was right behind her.
"Nothing," she replied with a slight shake of her head. "Just an adventurer's intuition telling me that quite a few errands will be waiting for me in the not-so-distant future."
"So have we finally reached the point where our mighty Warrior has grown weary of her many and varied tasks?"
The corners of her lips curled upward. "Offering to pick up my slack?"
"And deprive you of that satisfying feeling of a task well done? I think not."
They shared a laugh, but quickly grew serious once more.
"I hope Beq Lugg can find a way to help those people. If nothing else, then for Alisaie's sake," S'eni said.
"I concur. She has given a lot to help them and I would rather see her hopes fulfilled."
Arriving at the stairs, Y'shtola turned towards her. "In any case, I shall leave it in your capable hands."
"Of course you do," she chuckled. "Don't overdo it with the tea while watching Urianger."
The other Miqo'te just gave her that teasing little smile of hers and a wink before proceeding to walk downstairs to join Urianger in his endeavor to create the white Auracite. S'eni watched her until the echoing of footsteps from behind made her turn around to see G'raha and the others walk over.
"I have made arrangements for transportation to Amh Araeng. They are preparing the Amaro as we speak," he said, then offered everyone a polite smile. "I shall see you all when you return. Safe travels, my friends."
With that, he too left to join Urianger, leaving S'eni and the twins with their newest friend. As she glanced down, she found Beq Lugg looking back, their thick tail tapping up and down in a slow and even rhythm.
"Well then, shall we?"
The Nu Mou nodded. "Certainly."
The four of them made their way downstairs and left the Crystal Tower. As they walked across the Exedra, S'eni noticed Beq Lugg looking around the area, their long, droopy ears rising a tiny fraction at something they must have heard.
"If you want, I can show you around after we return," she offered them. "There's lots to see. Like the Cabinet of Curiosity, where all manner of tomes and manuscripts are kept."
Beq Lugg turned their attention towards her, tiny claws going to their round chin to rub it. "Hmm. Tomes you say..." they nodded. "Yes, I do believe I would like to see this Cabinet of yours."
Arriving at the Amaro landing, they were told that only two of the flying mounts could be spared. Fortunately, that was of little problem to them, as the twins could share one and Beq Lugg was small enough to join S'eni on top of the flying mount without much difficulty. Shortly after, they were off in the direction of Amh Araeng.
Once they were in the air, there was little any of them had to do but to leave it all to the Amaro to travel this well-memorized route. They truly were amazing creatures. Loyal and highly intelligent, even those that didn't belong to Seto and his flock, who had awoken to their ancient heritage.
Though who knows? The one Beq Lugg and her were sitting on might just up and start talking too.
Soon enough, the Crystal Tower was only a small vertical line on the horizon and S'eni shifted her eyes down to her companion whose tiny claws held onto the edge of the saddle. S'eni wondered if Beq Lugg knew about the sentient Amaro now living in what used to be part of their home. From what she had gathered they had taken residence inside the abandoned palace shortly after the Flood, holing themselves up to live the rest of their life in solitude.
All because of...
"Can I ask you something?" She broke the silence.
They didn't reply immediately, as if they could tell what she wanted to ask. "What do you wish to know?"
"You said it was your research that caused the plague in Voeburt. What did you mean by that?"
Beq Lugg became silent again, shifting their head so that she couldn't see their face. A long moment passed before they said, "Did your friend the Exarch not tell you? He seems to be quite knowledgeable about me after all."
"He didn't, he only mentioned that you once held a place of honor at Voeburt's royal court."
That seemed to take the Nu Mou by surprise.
"Then how did you know of the plague?"
"I saw it. Well, part of it anyway. You see, I have an ability called the Echo that shows me visions of the past," she explained. "I know it's hard to believe."
"After all that you have told me? Not at all," they said. "And I have heard of such individuals who had the ability to peer into the past. Before the Flood. Tell me, what did you see?"
She proceeded to tell him the story of Branden, a knight who had been tasked with the protection of princess Sauldia. How his failure to do so during one of her many investigations into these strange series of horrific transformations had him stripped of his knighthood and cast out, only to return many months later with a group of loyal companions. How they uncovered that it was the court mage Tadric who was behind this ghastly crime and brought him to justice by the sword. And how, as a final act of spite, the traitor had turned Sauldia into a monster as well, leaving her at the mercy of the one that had once sworn to protect her.
"I see..." Beq Lugg said afterwards, lowering their head. A few minutes passed before they spoke again, releasing a heavy sigh as they did. "During my time at the royal court, I already prefered the company of tomes and flasks over people. I was largely ignored, which suited me just fine as it made me able to focus more on my studies. Only one person, a girl with a curious glint in her eyes, seemed to take a liking to me."
"What was she called?" she asked.
"Pia—Princess Pauldia, Princess Sauldia's younger sister," they replied. "Maybe it was because we couldn't be any different, but we became fast friends and she would visit me frequently, even in the dead of night. Then, one night after Princess Sauldia had been named heir, she came by, uncharacteristically silent and I asked her what worried her so. Marriage. One which she did not wish for, but mortal customs were strange to me, so I did not know how to help her. But Tadric did."
S'eni exhaled sharply.
"He offered to petition the king to abandon his plans, and he did. On the condition that she renounce her title of princess and become one of the court mages or be sent away. But Pia had no aptitude in the ways of magic."
"So did you...?"
"I did." Beq Lugg nodded, the motion barely visible. "I couldn't lose my only friend. It was an act of friendship. In the end, it threw Voeburt into chaos and cost it both of their princesses. The last I saw of Pia was her eyes pleading for mercy inside the castle's gaol. I...do not know what happened to her. I can only hope someone granted her that final mercy."
S'eni frowned and closed her eyes. She knew that name; she had heard it during a visit to the Wandering Stairs. A group of Halldor's hunters had mentioned it in conjunction to a mark they had slayed that day during a venture into Il Mheg.
Opening them again, she reached out and placed a hand on a tiny shoulder. "They did."
Silence set over them, only the wind and the faint sound of a conversation between Alisaie and Alphinaud piercing it. The lush lands of Lakeland had long since given way to the rocky terrain that lead into Amh Araeng, and as soon it appeared on the horizon, her eyes found the wall of crystalized Light.
"A friend of mine once told me something," she said. "Words I will never forget."
"...What were they?" Beq Lugg asked.
"For those we have lost, for those we can yet save. We can't undo the mistakes of the past, but we can try to do better in future."
The Nu Mou stared out into the distance. "Those are beautiful words."
S'eni smiled. "Hm. I think so too."
So here's a little fun fact: In the German version of the game Beq Lugg's a guy. I wager it has to do with German having no gender neutral pronouns, so the translation team was forced to pick a gender. Same with Feo Ul btw, who is a girl. You won't even believe how many times I accidentally wrote he and she for the both of them lol.
Also poor Pauldia. That was an Elite Mark that sure hit differently.