A Great Charade

With Beq Lugg's assistance, we not only managed to find a way to reverse the effects of those suffering from Light corruption, it also offered us an important clue as to how to deliver the Scions back home.

But further dark tidings from the Source soon arrived to overshadow the good ones, of a new Ultima Weapon, of an Emperor slain and of his son's, his murderer, true return. Safe to say, our hero had quite a lot on her plate.

And that would not be the last of it, as our enemy soon appeared in front of us once more...In the guise of a friend.

S'eni could only stare at the group gathered in front of her, called here by her and the others to tell them the truth of those that history had vilified; of the Warriors of Light that had fought, and died, and in the end offered up their very souls to save the world they loved. Now, as all their backs were turned to her, her eyes shifted over to the figure now commanding their attention, mouth agape in shock.

Standing there was none other than Ardbert. And not only that, he was telling the people that now, that the world had a future, it was their turn to protect it as its future Warriors of Light.

But...that wasn't possible. His soul had merged with hers.

A sudden presence next to her startled her out of her stupor and she turned her head to see Urianger, his face showing only his usual, calm expression. He leaned down.

"From thine own lips did we learn of Ardbert's fate, and by thy countenance, I gather thou art not inclined to recant thy testimony," he said in a low voice and glanced over to Ardbert. "Yet whosoever this man may be, his words hold truth, and resonate with the citizenry besides. For us to voice our doubts here and now would serve but to sow disquiet. 'Twere better we retired unto the Ocular, and there discussed this matter in private."

"Go," Alphinaud told them. "I will stay here and watch."

Exhaling through her nose, S'eni nodded.

She turned around and began walking towards the tower. Y'shtola, who had stood back a bit, had her eyebrows drawn in concern as she fell into step next to her. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just—" she gave the group a quick glance, then leaned closer to her lover. "This doesn't make any sense."

By the time they had made it into the Ocular, G'raha and Beq Lugg were already watching the scene on that mirror of his. He gave them a silent nod when they approached, before turning his gaze back to the image of the crowd listening to...whoever this was.

"So that is one of the Warriors of Light of the First," he noted. "I haven't had the pleasure of making his acquaintance, but from the looks on your faces, I gather this is no simple case of mistaken identity."

"As far as I am able to discern, that is indeed Ardbert," Beq Lugg said. "It has been a long time, but not that long. Could he truly have been resurrected as he claims?"

"...No, absolutely not," S'eni replied, hands balling into fists as she stared at the reflection. "It looks like him and sounds like him. But it isn't him."

"Ardbert did entrust his very soul unto thee. I see no reason to question thy judgment," Urianger agreed.

"Nor do I," Y'shtola said and looked at her. "Your aether burns as brightly as it did the day you slew Emet-Selch. That alone is proof that he's still with you."

The Elezen ran a hand across the well-trimmed sideburns along his jaw. "Yet that which standeth now before the people is far more than a passing imitation. I am reminded of the Cardinal Virtues...though a sin eater he is not. Which leaveth but one plausible explanation."

"An Ascian," both Y'shtola and her said at the same time.

"Given their fondness for posthumous possession, I would have to agree. From what I understand, the Warriors of Light were laid to rest in Eulmore by those whom they had aided in life. At the time, some few still remembered them as heroes," G'raha explained, turning away from the scene in the mirror. "Needless to say, four of them were subsequently exhumed to serve as the Virtues. And if one knew where to look, Ardbert too wouldn't have been difficult to find."

Y'shtola crossed her arms. "Then if this is indeed the work of an Ascian, my mind inevitably turns to the last Paragon to survive the sundering..."

Elidibus.

"That Zenos hath reclaimed his own flesh is known. Thus evicted from his borrowed form...and cognizant, no doubt, of Emet-Selch's failure here in the First...'Tis quite possible the Emissary chose Ardbert for his next vessel."

But to what end they couldn't tell, nor why he would want the people of the First to become Warriors of Light in their own right. Whatever the case though, they knew that simply speaking out against him wouldn't do them any good. Elidibus was an expert in manipulation, having already managed to do so with the First's finest heroes in the past with nothing but a few pretty half-truths.

No...they needed to be smart about this.

"His performance appears to have concluded," Beq Lugg said, pulling them all out of their conversation to look towards the mirror, where the Ascian was beginning to walk away from the dispersing crowd. "What now? Go back out and follow him?"

"'Twould appear Master Alphinaud already hath pursuit in mind, and I suspect one pair of eyes shall better serve our cause than half a dozen. Let the rest of us maintain an inconspicuous distance. For the present, at least," Urianger replied.

"Hm, agreed," S'eni said, keeping her eyes on the image until both Elidibus and Alphinaud has disappeared from view.

"In any case, you did well to dispel the falsehood surrounding the Warriors of Light," G'raha said. "Even though the appearance of an imposter is a rather curious development."

"I for one would like to know why he urged the people on to be Warriors of Light." Y'shtola looked at her.

"Good question, really..." S'eni put a hand on the back of her hip.

"Ere we take action, we must needs ascertain his intent. Let us pray that Master Alphinaud returneth soon with that most essential knowledge," Urianger said. "For now, I think it best to apprise Thancred and Ryne of our efforts. When we do confront Ardbert, we shall no doubt have need of their strength."

A round of nods.

"Then Beq Lugg and I will continue our research of how we might improve your spirit vessel," G'raha said.

"Hmm, then I think this will be the perfect time to return to Rak'tika," Y'shtola said and uncrossed her arms once more. "Until now, everything we have learned of the Ascians has been handed to us at their leisure. Though I doubt that Elidibus will be as forthcoming as Emet-Selch. Fortunately, I recently received word from Fanow. Remember our little excursion into the Qitana Ravel?"

"Of course," S'eni replied. "Did they find something?"

"They did. The tablet you found made mention of chambers deep within the Ravel and the Vii recently uncovered them. According to Almet, the relics inside tell the story of a great calamity that once befell an ancient civilization."

"That of the Ascians..."

Y'shtola nodded. "Perhaps. It may just lead us to the truths we seek."

"Alright." S'eni smiled. "Care for some company?"

"I wouldn't dream of going without you," Y'shtola replied, mirroring her expression.

After saying goodbye to the others, they began to leave, making their way down the steps of the tower in silence. It was only when they stepped out onto the Exedra, that Y'shtola spoke up once more. "So how are you feeling? Truly I mean."

With a sigh, she looked at the other Miqo'te. "When I get my hands on him, I'm going to beat him out of Ardbert's body. One punch at a time."

Her words elicited a giggle from Y'shtola.

"Good. Your fighting spirit is as fierce as ever, but might I suggest taking some of that energy and guide it towards our investigation?"

Another sigh, this time coupled with a chuckle. "Yes, my lady."

And needed her fighting spirit was, as shortly after they had entered the chambers with Almet and her sisters, Uimet had triggered some kind of trap that awakened the guardian of this place. After taking Y'shtola and the other three hostage for their transgression, it demanded of her to succeed in its trials. First it tested her knowledge, then, when she had freed her friends, the inevitable battle trial followed.

But with their combined might, it stood little chance and was swiftly defeated, congratulating them on their worthiness and delivering them back to where it had taken them.

With a sigh, Y'shtola brushed some hair out of her face. "It sent us back. How polite," she said with a dryness that made Thanalan look wet in comparison before turning towards Uimet. "Now what have we learned?"

"Oh, we were bound to run into a living statue anyway," was all the Vii had to say to that, waving the issue off as she picked up the statue that had caused all this in the first place. "And now we can open the door!"

While she walked over to place it on the opening mechanism, the other Miqo'te just looked over at S'eni and rolled her eyes, receiving a shrug in return.

"At least it wasn't giant rock boulders this time," S'eni just said.

A loud rumble went through the chamber, and they turned around to watch the wall slowly open to reveal a small chamber beyond. Making their way up the set of stairs, the five of them stepped inside and looked around. There wasn't much, a mural of a woman on the wall, and in the very center of it, a large sarcophagus.

"A tomb, just as I thought," Y'shtola said. "Befitting a hero."

Almet looked about for a moment, then her eyes landed on the mural. She gasped. "She is Vii! Could it be the Archmage Tiuna?"

S'eni exchanged a look with Y'shtola. "Who?"

"A legendary hero of Ronka," the chieftainess explained. "The tales tell of how she smote entire armies with a single incantation, so potent was her spellcraft, though she only ever fought in the name of peace."

"I thought them no more than tales. To think she really existed..." Uimet murmured.

"Well, I for one always believed!" Cymet replied in an excited voice.

Now taking a good look at the mural as well, Y'shtola's eyes widened and she began to walk forward.

"Shtola?"

"I wonder..." her lover said and began to translate the words underneath the woman. "By the light...of fallen stars...great power awakens..."

Hearing those words, S'eni stepped up next to her and let her eyes wander over the wall. With staff in hand, Tiuna stood tall and proud underneath a shower falling stars. She...knew that sight.

But it was Almet's words that solidified it. "Tiuna was not only a master of spellcraft. It is said she could see truths long lost and hear the voices of men's hearts."

"She possessed the Echo..." she breathed out.

"Indeed. In which case, none of this is a coincidence." Y'shtola's face grew serious. "Falling stars setting the sky ablaze, and in both this world and the Source, we find individuals awakening to mysterious powers at the sight. We could never figure out the why of it. Now, however...I believe we might."

They both turned their attention back to the mural.

"Does the scene depicted here not resemble the one we saw when we first ventured into the Qitana Ravel?" Y'shtola asked. "And doesn't it also remind you of what Emet-Selch invited us to witness."

"Yeah." She nodded. "The Final Days."

"If what the Exarch's suggest is true, soul and mind share a fragile yet profound bond, might it not be possible for an event to leave such a deep imprint upon the soul that it could be perceived eons later, given a suitable trigger?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Echo defies explanation by conventional aetherological theory. Or shall we say, modern aetherological theory. But if it's a power that once belonged to the Ancients, to souls yet undivided..." Y'shtola paused for a moment, then caught herself with a chuckle. "I'm sorry, it would seem I have entered the realm of pure speculation. And I call myself a scholar."

"I thought making up outrageous theories and proving them is what makes a scholar," S'eni replied with a teasing little grin.

"Yes, I suppose that is true. Nevertheless I shall refrain from making any more wild claims until I have gathered further evidence. Still...I can't help but be reminded of our experience in Amaurot."

"Do you remember what he said before he died?"

"'Remember us'," her lover replied. S'eni fell silent for a moment, feeling her heart grow heavy at the image of Emet-Selch's smiling face surfacing in her mind.

"History is learned, not lived," Almet then said, pulling S'eni out of her thoughts. "We have always protected the tales of Ronka, just as we have protected this place. But we are mindful of what our mothers taught us. We see the past through our own eyes, and speak of it with our own words. Thus do we come to understand it, in our own way. But this is not the same as remembering."

"Your mothers were wise. Though we witnessed the Final Days, our impressions couldn't fail to be colored by our own experiences and expectations," Y'shtola said, a pensive expression on her face. "Those who lived through it would have perceived the event quite differently. We must bear in mind that it's no simple matter to keep the truth alive, or it will die with Emet-Selch and his kin."

Lowering her eyes to the ground, S'eni found herself wondering if they even could keep it alive.

"Remember us..." she heard Emet-Selch's voice echo in her mind. "Remember...that we once lived..."

She had promised him that she would, but now she wasn't so sure if she could keep that promise. A hand placed itself onto her shoulder and she looked up into beautiful pale eyes.

"But we have disturbed Tiuna long enough. Fanow will serve similarly well as a venue for our contemplations."

"Yeah..." She gave the mural one final glance "You're right."

Turning around, they left this ancient hero to her final rest.

After returning to Fanow, and wishing the Vii goodbye, the two of them returned to Slitherbough and, after finally getting to eat Runar's famous stew, they met up with Alphinaud, Alisaie and Urianger just as they were about to leave. When S'eni asked why they were here, Alphinaud told them that he has lost track of 'Ardbert' shortly after they had entered the woods, but that it was evident he would soon come to Slitherbough to preach the truth about the Warriors of Light and the Flood like he had done in other parts of Norvrandt already.

To that end, he would hunt some of the few Sin Eaters still lurking around the areas, earning their trust in the process. Which meant, if they wanted to find him, they just needed to get to a Sin Eater first. And as luck would have it, Ryne had already found one and gone ahead with Thancred.

By the time they arrived to join their friends, the beast had long since been slain.

"If you were hoping to vent your frustrations on our Eater friend here, I can only apologize," Thancred greeted them with a friendly wave.

"Hmm no, that's alright," S'eni said, stopped in front of him, and placed her hand on her hip. "After all, I was raised to yield to my elders."

The corners of her lips curled into a sweet smile just as a little glare was sent her way by her friend, followed by a shake of his head while muttering something under his breath. Chuckling, she looked at Ryne and winked. "Good job."

The girl shook her head. "Oh no, with how few there are now, it took us no time at all to track it down."

"That suits our purpose perfectly," Alphinaud said. "Now we only need to wait for him to arrive."

"Weren't you two meant to be attending the Empty?" Alisaie then asked.

"We were, and we made a certain amount of progress too, as Urianger and S'eni here can attest to," Thancred replied.

"On that note, has anything changed about our sleeping friend?" S'eni inquired. Last time she checked, their attacker was still comatose when she had left.

"Yes, about that..." he began but stopped. "We'll talk more about that later."

Y'shtola looked around their group and smiled. "It's good to have everyone present."

"Indeed!" Alphinaud nodded. "We will be glad for the additional hands should matters escalate."

Urianger's hand suddenly shot up, silencing them, and turned his head slowly. "Our quarry is come."

Following his gaze, she slowly turned around to see 'Ardbert' walking over to them at a leisurely pace. "Hah. It seems I've lost this particular race," he said just as the Sin Eater burst into tiny particles of aether. "Ah, though I suppose it's only fair. When we first met, I was the one who outpaced you. Ravana, was it?"

Almost out of their own volition, her legs moved to meet him, not leaving him out of her sight for a single second. He stopped with a friendly smile on his face, looking over to her friends before letting his eyes come to rest upon her. "But where are my manners? I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, and I have yet to say a word of thanks!"

She didn't reply, instead raising her arm to extend a friendly fist towards him. The look on his face became one of confusion as his eyes darted from her face, to her fist, and back again.

"Arm giving you trouble? You should probably get that examined," he said.

With a huff, she dropped her arm. "Weren't you supposed to be good at this whole charade thing?"

The friendly facade dropped instantly, replaced by an emotionless mask.

"Very well. Let us forgo this pretense," he said, his voice now echoing ominously. "After all, it was never you that I needed to deceive."

Raising his hand in front of his face, he slowly moved it down to reveal the red symbol marking him as an Ascian, no, as a member of the Convocation. When he spoke again, his voice had fully shifted from Ardbert's to his true voice.

"Yes, it is I, Elidibus. Through your time in Emet-Selch's imitation of our home, I daresay you have gained a better understanding of my role since the last time we met."

"You mean that time when you boasted that Zenos' body had limitless potential?" She asked lightly, somehow managing to keep her anger shackled. "Oh, how is he by the way? I heard he managed to wrestle it free from your control."

He didn't reply, but she noticed a subtle narrowing of eyes behind the glyph. It only lasted for a fraction of a second, but it was there. Good.

Alphinaud took a step forward. "We understand your role, Emissary, but not your goal. What is it that you seek to achieve?"

The symbol vanished and Elidibus looked over to the young Elezen, the corners of his lips risen into a subtle smirk. "I seek to enact the will of the Convocation, of course," he replied. "If it helps you to think of me as just another Ascian, no different in nature or purpose from the rest, you are welcome to do so."

"Once, I would have said your goal was destruction alone. Now I understand that you fight for something you love, just as we do," Alphinaud said. "Yet though we seem doomed to clash, I ask you to consider Emet-Selch's final words. 'Remember that we once lived,' he said. Had he not seen some glimmer of hope in our kind, I don't believe he would have spoken these words."

Y'shtola stepped up next to S'eni, fixing her gaze on Elidibus. "No one understood your plight better than he. His words must surely be worthy of your consideration."

"Emet-Selch..." the Ascian closed his eyes for a brief moment, then turned them skyward where dusk was beginning to set in. "How very unlike you to be so gravely mistaken. That one should stray at the end of such an arduous path is understandable, but I had thought you above such weakness. Perhaps you thought the same. If only I could have been present to offer correction...But I shall do so now, as is my duty, and return all to its proper course."

Lowering his gaze towards them, the almost sad expression on his face turned into one of mockery.

"As for you...Look at yourselves. Look at your history. Look back one hundred short years, to how your greatest warriors were undone. And now?" he scoffed. "Only one word from me, and you raise your hands like the puppets you are. Nothing has changed."

Elidibus raised his hand and balled it into a fist. "You fail and you fail and you learn nothing. You allow that which is most important to slip through your fumbling fingers like grains of sand—" he unclenched his fist. "—Again and again and again. And you would remember us? You do forget yourselves."

Light blue locked onto hers, the same eyes that had so willingly offered up their soul to not only save her, but also all of Norvrandt. But the warmth that had been reflected in those last moments was gone, and only the cold gaze of the Ascian using his flesh remained. He turned around.

"There is no common ground to be found between us. Nor do I require any," he told them. "I have my duty."

With that, he began to leave.

"Wait!" Y'shtola called out, but S'eni raised her arm to stop her.

"Don't. He said his piece," she said, keeping her eyes fixed on Elidibus until he vanished through a portal of darkness. Even after he had done so, her gaze didn't move away until she felt her lover brush her shoulder while turning around.

It wasn't until they began to talk about their next steps that she noticed her hands had balled into fists, trembling a little from the feeling of her nails digging into her palm through the fabric covering it.

As she slowly uncurled them, S'eni wondered once more if they truly were able to keep the truth alive, or if it indeed would slip through their fingers and scatter in the wind...

Heeeeeeeerrrrrrreeeeeeee's Elidibus!