Krile and Lunaire opened their parasols and followed Wuk Lamat into the market. Sea salt and petrichor made way to smells both familiar and unfamiliar to Lunaire. The scents from the market hung in the humid air and the sales pitches mixed in with the sound of pattering rain. Not a storm like the one at sea, but a soft shower promising not to overstay its welcome.
Tuliyollal reminded her of Ul'dah and Radz-at-Han in some of the more lovely ways: the vibrant colors, the energetic bustle, and the smell of spices in the air. It felt homey, seeing the people crowding around stalls and under canopies to browse wares and chatter about their day. And yet, it distinguished itself with the diversity of people around.
People of all races wandered the stalls, adorned in brightly patterned attire and conversed among themselves as if it were the most ordinary thing. But, as Wuk Lamat and Erenville described, it was the most ordinary thing for them. In Tuliyollal — Tural, at large — they had made peace with one another. A step Eorzeans had made motions to take, but were far from achieving. She could imagine how inspiring it felt to Alisaie and Alphinaud to see it all.
"This place is so amazing. I can see exactly why my grandfather would come to a place like this," Krile whispered beside her. Wuk Lamat glanced back with a grain, though she seemed to have only caught the first part of what Krile said.
"Isn't it amazing? And these are only your first few steps!"
Every step they took deeper into the market — the Bayside Bevy, she called it — made waves of excitement and nostalgia crashed through Lunaire. The smell of street food, the sounds of bartering, it all warmed her heart in a way she hadn't felt in so long. Wuk Lamat chatted away about little things throughout the market. Stalls she visited, her favorite treats, which merchants she knew personally and which she didn't, and Lunaire gladly took it all in.
For once — even knowing the whole journey wouldn't remain so blissful — Lunaire felt relaxed. Krile asked questions as they wandered throughout the stalls, and Wuk Lamat answered each with her signature cheerful mien. Lunaire took the sights in quietly. Something she hadn't done in a long time.
As they wandered out of the market and continued on the tour, Lunaire allowed her thoughts to wander. And wander they did, to many places and more. She thought about how much Tataru would have loved to see the market, and the potential for expanding her business into Tural. The unique clothing styles would have given her so many ideas, it would have been interesting to see what she might have fashioned with new inspiration.
The other Scions may have enjoyed it here too. There was no end to the knowledge Y'shtola and Urianger could have gained, no end to the new connections Thancred could have made. What sort of magic techniques did they have here that Y'shtola had never heard of? Who could Thancred develop lucrative friendships with? How many tomes inaccessible to the scholars of Old Sharlayan could Urianger indulge in?
And Raha. How she would have loved to have brought him along. A new adventure. A new place. A new journey he could've taken at a less dire pace. They could've enjoyed it together. Her fingers wistfully grasped for a hand not there. Had he not personally wished her a fond — if a bit tearful — farewell, she would have regretted leaving him behind. She still did. But it didn't mean she could never come back again and bring him with her. He simply wouldn't get to see it with her the first time. There'd be no harm in getting to watch his eyes light up in delight at new experiences, for once.
"Whew, could we…could we take a pause?" Krile asked. Lunaire and Wuk Lamat turned, their brows both creasing in worry as they regarded her. She stopped, bent over at the waist, breathing raggedly.
"Are you all right, Krile?"
"I'm…whew…I'm fine. There's…a lot…of stairs." She straightened back up and wiped her brow, but she looked drained of color. Perhaps Tataru would not enjoy Tuliyollal as much as she thought.
"Then let's take a short break! There's much more of Tuliyollal to show you, and I want you to be able to take it all in!"
"Thank…you…"
While they paused, Lunaire paced. Her gaze darted around, taking in all the information she could about their surroundings. She didn't even do it intentionally, just a habit she'd grown accustomed to.
"Could you maybe take wider laps? I'm starting to get dizzy," Wuk Lamat said, stopping Lunaire in her tracks. Wuk Lamat seemed more worried than annoyed, but Krile had come to know Lunaire did not sit still easily.
"Oh, sorry."
She sat down beside Krile and let her mind wander again. She looked at the buildings, the architecture, and the way the city had been built. The layout had been made around the mountain, as opposed to forcing the mountain to accommodate their building needs. Roads sloped up hills and stairs bridged heights too steep for roads. Much of the rock seemed to be from the mountain itself, repurposed into the cobbled paths and decor and some of the buildings.
The buildings and architecture caught her eye particularly. It had a unique aesthetic — she supposed the same could be said of anywhere — and yet it brought to mind something specific. A peculiar specific, as it brought to mind the Ronkan ruins on the First. There was absolutely no way the people of Tural could have had any interaction with the Ronkans, but the similarities were still there. She found it intriguing. Perhaps something she could take note of and send a letter to Raha. He would find it quite interesting. They'd probably discuss it over coffee and biscuits. She could tell Y'shtola too, since the Viis lived not too far from her in Rak'tika. She would surely be interested.
She caught Wuk Lamat staring at her from the corner of her eye. It drew her out of her thoughts and set her firmly back on the Turali soil. A wide, reassuring grin lifted her cheeks, but she'd already caught the look that had been settling on Lunaire's face. A reassuring smile came across Wuk Lamat's face, framed with knowing eyes and a concerned wiggle of her ear. A gesture Lunaire once assumed had been exclusive to Miqo'te, but came with a response as easy as a dismissive tail flick.
"All right, I think I'mm good to get moving again," Krile said, though she still huffed a little as she spoke.
"Great! I want to show you all of Tuliyollal before night!"
"Even if it does get late, I'm sure it's all still beautiful," Krile assured her.
"Oh, yes, the market is especially lovely when all of the lanterns light up!"
The rains had begun to subside and they put away their parasol. Golden sunlight cascaded through the cracks in the silver-grey clouds, brightening the already lively city. It reflected off of the puddles and shimmered off of the wet rocks, making the entire city sparkle. As Wuk Lamat guided them through the stone pillars showcasing Tural history — another thing reminding her of Ronka — Lunaire wondered if she still saw the same sparkle. Perhaps she did. A person as bright as her, she had to. But there were things she imagined Wuk Lamat would see in Eorzea that Lunaire wouldn't notice anymore.
How strange, to have to have gone so far away to truly appreciate home again.