Draco: Alright, one last quest for post-Shadowbringers. One or two ring-of-darkness overworld battles, per precedent from the Machinist quest having one or two interact-with-a-destination overworld battles. And because my ability to describe hairstyles seems adamant on failing me one more time: Auri females, second row, third option from the left.
Final Fantasy and all related properties © Square Enix.
Lv. 80: Sword Arts Of Life
After all that Ayleth had experienced on the First, there were a lot of visits to make when she got back to the Source. One of them was a stop at Fallgourd Float - and she found Zyaire outside the Bobbing Cork.
A smile appeared on the champion's face as Ayleth approached him. "Well, there's a familiar face," he greeted. "Good to see you again, Ayleth." He beckoned in the direction of the Bobbing Cork. "Panha and I brought Kiyomi out here for a meal. Care to join us? I dare say she'd love to hear some stories about what you've been up to."
QUEST ACCEPTED
+x+x+x+
Kiyomi beamed when she saw Ayleth stepping into the tavern, quickly swallowing what was in her mouth to greet her. "Miss! Hello again!" Ayleth smiled back, raising a hand in greeting.
Panha had a smile on her own face. "I was wondering when you might swing by again," she admitted. "Planning to train with Zyaire, or did you just come to check up on us?"
Ayleth's attention was drawn to the rapier hanging on Panha's hip.
"Oh, this?" She glanced down at her weapon. "I decided to expand a little bit. I keep thinking about that incident with M'inwa, and I thought I might stand to gain from picking up a weapon I can use in close quarters. Maybe I can join you two when you go practicing your sword arts." The Keeper shook her head. "But never mind me for now. Tell us about the adventures you've been on."
"Yes, please!" Kiyomi agreed. "I wanna hear about it!"
With a nod, Ayleth elected to take a seat; Zyaire grabbed the last chair at the table as she shared some of her endeavours on the First.
Kiyomi had wide eyes by the time she finished her story. "Wow... So many big monsters... and you beat them all?!" She rocked back in her seat. "And you fought with so many awesome people!"
"Indeed you did," Zyaire admitted. "I can scarcely imagine how much stronger you must be after all you've done."
"Why just imagine it?" Panha assured her. "I dare say we can see it in action."
"I wanna come with you!" Kiyomi cheered. "I wanna see you fighting together!"
Ayleth nodded in agreement, and Zyaire got to his feet. "What do you say we head to the South Shroud?" he proposed. "I think I know exactly what we can do. We can meet up at Quarrymill to start."
+x+x+x+
Once everyone had arrived at Quarrymill, Zyaire elected to share his plans.
"So," the champion admitted, "a couple weeks ago, flyers started showing up around Gridania. They said that anyone who wanted to 'prove themselves against the strongest sword' should come to Urth's Fount, and anyone who didn't should pass word along to those who did." He crossed his arms. "The flyers stopped appearing the next day, but word of mouth is that no one's managed to surpass the swordsman who issued the challenge - and not for a lack of comers."
Panha seemed surprised. "This is your idea of 'training together'?" she asked.
Zyaire shook his head. "Not the duelist themselves. Urth's Gift is a watering hole for plenty of wildlife - large boars, for the most part. But the Wood Wailers report that they've been coming out into the forest proper. It seems the battles are spooking them - which is making the Shroud more dangerous than it already is. We're going to cull the beasts before they hurt anyone, and then we're going to go meet this 'strongest sword' and let them know their dueling locale is a problem."
Ayleth pounded one fist into her other palm with a grin.
"That should work," Panha agreed. "Kiyomi, make sure you stay clear when the fighting starts, okay?"
Kiyomi nodded. "Okay, Mama!"
Weapons at the ready, the group started towards Urth's Fount. Sure enough, the hogs of the Gift were nigh on stampeding as they got near - and though they were quickly struck down by the swordfighters' efforts, they would easily pose a threat to unarmed travelers or even slightly under-prepared adventurers. Panha made absolutely sure the beasts were dealt with before calling Kiyomi to follow them, and as they emerged into the Gift proper, Zyaire and Ayleth took the lead with their swords at the ready.
Something tumbled down the slope leading to the Fount, causing Ayleth to raise her swords before she realized it was a Hyuran man in scale mail. A lance impaled itself next to him, and as he got to his feet, he quickly called out "I yield!" before seizing his lance and fleeing into the wood.
"Haha!" A figure leapt down the descent, drawing the swordfighters' attention - a pale-skinned Xaela woman, with horns reaching back from the sides of her head and vibrant purple hair that hung over her shoulders. She was clad in rather light-looking armour of deep blues, and in her right hand was a broadsword that didn't have much hilt to speak of; a red ribbon was tied in her hair, and she looked surprisingly energetic for someone who had just come off a battle, raising two fingers of her free hand with a yell of "V!"
Panha seemed surprised. "This is...?"
The new arrival seemed equally surprised to see them. "Oh? More challengers already?"
Zyaire shook his head. "Maybe not quite yet. You must be the one who asked all of Gridania for a battle."
"Mhm!" The Xaela beamed at them. "I'm Khorchi!"
"Pleasure to meet you," the fencer returned. "Panha."
"I'm Kiyomi!" the little one chimed in.
"Zyaire." The champion crossed his arms. "As much as I'd love to see what the 'strongest sword' can do... I'm going to have to object to the choice of battlefield." Khorchi made a concerned noise at his remark. "The wildlife around here started acting up around the same time as you started dueling. I can't really sit here and let you keep endangering passersby with the way you set off the hogs."
"Eh?!" Worry wrought Khorchi's face. "Oh, no... I didn't even realize! I'm so sorry!"
"It's alright," Zyaire assured her. "You haven't caused enough trouble to get the Wood Wailers on your case - not yet, anyways." He crossed his arms. "If you wanted to offer up a challenge to anyone who was interested, I dare say you would've gotten better results on the bloodsands in Ul'dah."
Khorchi pouted. "I kind of wanted to fight in the forest," she admitted. "But if the fights are causing trouble here, I guess I'd better pick somewhere else." Her smile returned. "Does that mean you're interested in the duel?"
Panha saw Zyaire hesitating and spoke up. "Well, if he's not, I am," she insisted, causing Zyaire to double-take. "What do you say we have our matches under the Sultantree before we look at booking the Coliseum?"
"But who's this one?" Khorchi asked, turning to Ayleth. "You're not gonna introduce yourself?"
→"I was just here for the training."
"Eh?" Khorchi seemed surprised at that. "You were 'training' against all the beasts I ticked off?"
→"I'm a woman of no consequence."
Khorchi pursed her lips. "No one who says that is actually a woman of no consequence," she accused.
Kiyomi giggled. "Can we go?" she asked. "I wanna see you fight Mama and Papa!"
The smile returned to Khorchi's face. "Sounds good to me!" she concurred. "The big tree in Thanalan, right?"
+x+x+x+
By the time Ayleth approached the Sultantree in Central Thanalan, the others were already there - and Zyaire was on one knee in front of Khorchi, his swords lying at his sides.
Kiyomi saw the adventurer approached and pouted. "You're late, Miss!" she scolded. "Papa already lost!"
Khorchi giggled. "Just barely!" she insisted. "An opponent with two blades is something else!" She sheathed her sword. "I swear, there's something familiar about it... You said it's the 'art of champions'?"
"Yeah," Zyaire confessed, getting to his feet with a little less wind than seemed healthy. "I taught Ayleth a while ago, and ever since, we've trained together here and there. Technically, the second blade isn't essential to the sword arts... but then, I don't see you carrying a shield for your gladiatorial techniques, either."
He reclaimed his weapons and moved to join Kiyomi as Panha stepped forward. "My turn," she offered. "Is it just weapons, or...?"
"Nah," Khorchi assured her, "don't hold back. I had archers, thaumaturges, arcanists, all sorts coming to fight me at Urth's Fount. You can use magic or whatever else." She drew her sword. "I'll just be using this, though."
"Alright, then." Panha drew her rapier and magical focus, turning the blade forward as the crystal floated above her hand, and Khorchi readied her sword.
A leaf fell from the Sultantree, drifting down between the two combatants.
No sooner had it touched the ground than Panha lunged forward, rapier raised; Khorchi raised her sword to meet it, leaving the thrust glancing off her blade. Taking advantage of the opening, the Xaela brought her blade in an outward swing that Panha barely managed to deflect for herself; the Keeper promptly retaliated with a swipe and thrust of her rapier that Khorchi barely managed to sidestep. She thrust her own blade forward, skimming Panha's casting arm, then swiftly moved her blade to meet a flurry of thrusts; Panha made to follow up with a few swift slashes of her rapier, but Khorchi leapt away and then quickly returned with a whirling swing, leaving the Keeper stumbling back.
With a growl, Panha leapt back, sending an X of light soaring towards the Xaela before she landed and affixed the crystal to her rapier. With a grin, Khorchi lunged forward before the spell could fly, swinging her blade to meet the Jolt and then rising with a leaping blow that knocked the merged rapier out of Panha's hand, leaving her stumbling back. Zyaire started on recognizing the motion, and Panha had no chance to retaliate before Khorchi leapt into a descending blow...
...and halted.
Silence beneath the Sultantree for a long moment; then the swordfighter pulled her weapon away and stepped back in surprise. "Is it you?"
Panha blinked. "Me? What?"
Khorchi sheathed her weapon. "Ever since I arrived here in Eorzea, I've felt like... there was something I'm missing. Like I'd promised to meet someone, but the meeting never happened. But how do you say something like that to a bunch of complete strangers?" She held a hand before her. "Words are air, the saying goes, so I tried to say it with my actions instead. Challenging anyone who might cross paths with me." Then she turned to Panha. "And now... that feeling of something missing is gone. Like I've finally fulfilled that promise. Are you... the person I'd promised to meet?"
"But how?" Panha asked. "I've never..."
Ayleth's gaze fell, remembering what she had seen on the First.
→"You wouldn't be the first ones to meet again in another life."
→"I've seen new old friends like this before."
Khorchi turned to her. "You believe me?" she asked, incredulous.
Ayleth nodded with a smile.
Zyaire chuckled. "Past life promises or not, I dare say we stand to gain from being friends regardless," he admitted. "I've never seen someone pick up the sword arts from a single clash like that."
A chuckle emerged from Khorchi. "You're okay with this?" she asked. "Being friends with someone you just met?"
Panha nodded. "Of course."
Kiyomi spoke up. "That means you can fight with Mama and Papa next time!" she cheered. "I wanna see you in action more!"
"Hear hear," Zyaire concurred. "We stand to learn a lot from each other." He glanced up at the Sultantree. "Why don't you come back to Gridania with us? We can talk over a meal at the Carline Canopy."
Khorchi smiled. "I... I'd like that."
+x+x+x+
Once Ayleth had arrived, Zyaire got everyone a drink.
"So," Panha asked, "can I ask what brought you to Eorzea in the first place?"
Khorchi nodded. "Me and my sister and some friends in Othard wanted to come to Eorzea to try our hand at the whole 'adventuring' thing you got going on here. Someone messed up the bookkeeping on the boat that was supposed to bring us here, so there was only a seat for one of us. Since I'm the best fighter of the group, they asked me to go ahead and learn the lay of the land." She smiled. "Maybe I can introduce you when the others get here."
Zyaire chuckled. "We'd be happy to meet them."
"Uh-huh!" Kiyomi agreed. "If they're your friends, I'd love to see you all fighting together!"
Panha sighed. "Friends of a friend are always welcome," she insisted.
Ayleth nodded.
"...Friends," Khorchi mused. "I was a little scared of making new friends in a strange new place." She closed her eyes. "But hearing you call me a friend... feels so natural." She nodded. "I'll be glad to introduce you!"
