Chapter 13: The Unbroken Thread

He should have expected the vision upon entering the Umbilicus but, then, he doubted he would ever get used to them. It had been a long time since one had brought him to his knees, though, so it was no wonder he was disoriented when he came out of it sitting on the floor. Ardbert was kneeling before him, a steadying hand on his shoulder, and a concerned look on his face once more. Echo'a was left with the odd impression Ardbert had made him sit during it. "Careful, now."

"I'm ok," he croaked, trying to stand. There was a weird weakness to his limbs but nothing seemed injured.

Ardbert's expression tightened. "You're crying, Echo'a."

He touched his cheek. Huh. So he was. He rubbed the tears away and finished standing, turning his gaze back to the room. Ardbert slowly stood but didn't break the silence for a good while.

"What do you mean to do?"

He huffed a laugh, amusement curling his lips even as his heart throbbed in pain for what G'raha - the Exarch? - went through. He would have to ask about the name thing the next time he saw him. For now, he would stick with Exarch. "I mean to rescue the Exarch. Well and to have a few words with one Emet-Selch and the Exarch both."

"Then we should be on our way. The Ascian mentioned the Tempest, did he not? That's "the stormy seas around Kholusia" to you. His lair must be down there somewhere, hidden beneath the waves."

"That's going to be annoying to get to." He sighed and looked to Ardbert. "You don't happen to know where any of my friends are, would you?"

They found him in the end as he was crossing one of the upper floors trying to figure out where to look for them next. Several people shouted his name, drawing him up short, and amusement filled his face and his chest when Alisaie scooped him up into a hug. It wasn't anything close to what she had given him when he had first arrived on the First but it held a similar desperation.

Damn. He couldn't start crying now.

He tightened his hold on her as she muttered into his shoulder. "You had us worried collapsing like that."

Alphinaud, ever on his sister's heels, touched his shoulder. When he met Alphinaud's gaze, Echo'a saw the joy there quickly fall to worry. "It is good to see you up and about, my friend, but you look as if you could do with more rest."

"I'm fine," he offered. Outside of a few bursts of pain from the Light trying to break whatever Ryne had done, his body felt fine and the residual pain seemed to be waning.

"Echo'a, you're trembling," Alisaie muttered between them, worry and annoyance thick in her words.

He frowned. Certainly he would have noticed that but turned his attention from Alphinaud to his hand just to be sure. Suspended between him and the twins, it quaked like a leaf. "That's not good," he said, the words barely louder than Alisaie's. Because that couldn't be good, even if he couldn't figure out why.

Alphinaud took a hold of his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Have you eaten anything since awakening?" Alphinaud asked, already digging around for some food.

He returned Alphinaud's grip, watching as his hand shook with that effort too. "Ah, no." Shame prickled at his cheeks and he swallowed against the lump it tried to put in his throat. "I…seem to have forgotten to." Both of the twins protested at that but he didn't retain their words. He tightened his grip on Alphinaud's hand. "And, mmm, Alphinaud. I…." He swallowed again. "I need a favor."

"Of course. Anything."

He couldn't hide the flinch at that. He also couldn't tear his gaze from his and Alphinaud's hand. Alphinaud wouldn't judge him, it was safe to ask him, but a part of him didn't want to ask it of anyone, let alone Alphinaud who had to put up with so much already. But who else would he ask, though?

He fought the urge to swallow again.

"I, ah…" The breath shuddered in his chest. "I was sick this morning. Didn't…didn't get the chance to clean it up and I didn't want…anyone who didn't know to have to since it-" The words died on his tongue and he fought to get the last of it out. "Since it's not normal."

They both inhaled sharply and Alisaie's arm tightened around him. "Oh no," she said. "Alphinaud-"

But Alphinaud simply put some crackers in his hand with a soft smile. "It will be ok. Should only take me a moment." Alphinaud met Alisai's gaze. "It might be best to let Urianger talk to him now, so that he actually eats something." She nodded. Alphinaud gave her arm a squeeze. "Keep an eye on him for me."

"Of course."

Alphinaud took off at a run as Alisaie looked to the others. He couldn't bring himself to look at the group yet, watching Alphinaud's back until Urianger spoke up.

"Word reached us of thy recovery, and thus did we gather with all haste." The tears were unbidding when he met Urianger's gaze, the vision returning to the forefront of his mind, and Urianger deflated a bit at the sight. "Ah. By thy looks, I gather thou hast gleaned that which I came to tell thee."

"Urianger shared everything with us─the Exarch's true identity and purpose," Alisaie informed him, nudging the hand with food. He brought it to his lips and took a bite. There was no flavor and the chalky sensation was unpleasant but there wasn't any nausea.

There wasn't any hunger, either.

Urianger knelt before him, head bowed. That made Echo'a recoil, hating to see the man bow his head as if he had to beg for forgiveness. "I offer no excuses. When I agreed to aid the Exarch with his plans, 'twas in full acceptance of the condemnation I would face when my duplicity was laid bare."

He shoved the last of the crackers in his mouth to be done with them, trying to take his weight from Alisaie. Her grip only tightened when his legs slowly gave under the attempt.

"...Yet it is not rancor but resolve that I sense in thee. Thou art fully intent upon walking thy path to its end, art thou not?" Urianger raised his head, meeting his gaze again. Echo'a had to blink to keep the tears from blurring Urianger's face. "If thou canst forgive my deception─or, failing that, set aside thy displeasure for a time─I do beg leave to follow thee. What strength and wisdom I possess are thine to command."

Swallowing the last of the chalky crackers, he stepped out of Alisaie's grip at the same time he reached for Urianger's shoulder to keep himself steady. There were several gasps when he collapsed but Urianger caught him without hesitation, Alisaie's hands lingering on his back. He pressed his forehead against Urianger's shoulder as he awkwardly hugged the man. "You are a fool, Urianger," he said, his voice barely carrying beyond the two of them, shaking much as his body was. Urianger's arms wrapped securely around him. "Twice now have you done this and twice more you need no forgiveness." He sagged more into the man, finally feeling the exhaustion his body had been screaming at him. "If you think me worthy of devoting your efforts to, then I welcome your aid at both my highest and my lowest."

Urianger's face pressed into his hair. "...I thank thee. Doubt not but that I will do all in my power to repay thy kindness, and fulfill the Exarch's wishes."

He shook his head. "As long as the lies are kept at a minimum after this, that is enough for me. My kindness garners no repayment."

Urianger's grip tightened briefly around him. "Pray believe me when I say that I took no pleasure in deceiving thee. Indeed, I curse the circumstances which compelled me to do so...but no further secrets lie between us, I swear it."

"Good." His arms slipped from around Urianger and Echo'a more felt Urianger's confusion at his release than saw it. "Sorry. I…I haven't really gotten the chance to adapt to…well."

A cool hand touched his neck and he glanced over finding Y'shtola kneeling beside him. "You're aether is stable enough for the circumstances being what they are."

"Been told by a rather poignant pixie my aether was a right mess," he offered and gained a chuckle from Y'shtola for his efforts. Urianger moved him about until his side was against Urianger's chest, his head still resting on the man's shoulder, and half sitting on the man's leg.

"Well, yes, but it is stable for now and that's what we want."

The humor he had been clinging to fell away too quickly. He lowered his voice, making it hard for anyone beyond Y'shtola and Urianger to hear him. "I was…also told I have cracks running all through my soul, as well, which, between the two, I think is making things complicated. Didn't even realize my body was exhausted until a moment ago."

Urianger's arm flexed against his back but Y'shtola's expression barely changed, still that same kind compassion she'd been looking at him with since Slitherbough. "They are probably not helping, no, but we have a moment for you to breathe and gather your strength before we depart for the Tempest."

"We're leaving then?" Thancred asked from somewhere behind Urianger.

Ryne's voice slipped in, hesitant in the first few syllables. "I'm sorry but...I don't think this is a good idea. Leaving the Crystarium, I mean. What I did won't last forever. There's no telling when the Light will break free again."

He frowned and tried to lift his head to look at her. It barely rolled against Urianger's shoulder so he used his voice to find her instead. "I would rather not have it do so here if it does at all. I would not risk the denizens anymore than I have."

"Please, you must stay here, at least for a little while longer!" Ryne pleaded. Y'shtola suddenly moved and he was pleasantly surprised to find Alphinaud taking her place having returned with food in hand. Blessedly it was liquid and he graciously accepted Alphinaud's help with it. "We will find a way to cure this, I promise you!"

The liquid tasted like chalk.

He had a visceral reaction as the thought of it being poison - which brought with it the thought of consuming sin eaters - shoved its way to the forefront of his mind. He gagged but desperately swallowed what he had already taken, not wanting to lose the sustenance his body desperately needed. Alphinaud's worried face was blurred by tears and he could barely make out the twist of pain in those features as he tugged at Alphinaud's wrist for more and mouthed 'please'. His body needed sustenance and they both knew it.

"How can you make such promises!?" Alisaie spat, somewhere above his head. It drew Alphinaud's attention and he took the chance to blink his vision clear. "We don't even know where to start!"

Alphinaud reached out to take hold of Alisaie's hand but she pulled away. He caught the flicker of hurt that crossed Alphinaud's face before it settled into an understanding resolve. "Alisaie, please. You know Ryne was only trying to help."

"Of course I know! I know only too well!" Alphinaud turned back to Echo'a, though his attention remained on his sister. Alphinaud gave in and tipped more of the liquid into Echo'a's mouth. "But making promises you have no way of keeping is not a kindness─it's a lie, plain and simple! We've all searched high and low for an answer! And every one of us came back empty-handed!"

He forced as much of it as he could down before his body recoiled again. Despite shoving at Alphinaud's wrist, Echo'a clung to the other's sleeve knowing it wouldn't be nearly enough. He swallowed thickly a few times, the liquid churning his stomach as he fought to ignore the screams of poison and consuming sin eater rattling his brain. Urianger covered Echo'a's forehead with a hand, pushing his bangs back and tucking his head against Urianger's shoulder. His skin was clammy beneath Urianger's palm.

"I am not about to stand in his way now─not after failing him in his hour of need! No, the least we can do is…"

He only got a glimpse of the pain on Alphinaud's face whose gaze was holding Urianger's before the last of Alisaie's words drew his attention. He recognized the pain in her words; he had seen it the first time he had found her on the First. For the first time since realizing his odd disconnect with his body, Echo'a was infuriated when his hand only made it to about shoulder height and no more but she saw the movement and caught his hand for him. He gave it a squeeze. She gave him a watery smile and a squeeze in return, a tear sliding down her cheek to fall free from her chin as her gaze fell away again.

Alphinaud took his other hand as Urianger's fell from his forehead. He didn't care to try and lift his head back up. "We will be with you through the bitter end, Echo'a. There is naught to be gained by standing still, after all."

Y'shtola shifted her weight as she said, "Indeed, we have exhausted every other avenue. Lead and we shall follow. If there is any hope to be found, then we will surely find it at your side."

"As long as you are willing to help me stay standing when I stumble and fall," he offered in return.

She nodded. Urianger carefully lifted him until his own feet were beneath him again. They did not take his weight but Urianger's support never wavered. Urianger's words barely left the space between them. "Thou art bolstered on all sides. Should thee find strength has fled beyond thine grasp, hesitate not the many who desire to take thy weight as burden."

Echo'a sent him a grateful smile. A heavy hand - Thancred's hand for he recognized the gesture and the shape - landed on his head, ruffling the hair between his ears as Thancred asked, "Are we all in agreement, then? We're following this twerp to the ends of the world?"

He weakly chuckled at that, failing to get his arm to swat at Thancred properly. Alisaie did it for him with a sharp, "Stop that," muttered under her breath as a new voice entered the conversation. "Is there aught we can do to help?"

He was grateful when his legs took his own weight. In view of so many people wanting to help, he wanted to be something they could look at without pity.

Urianger remained right behind him the entire time with at least one hand lingering on his lower back, the twins barely a step to one side, Y'shtola, Thancred, and Ryne barely a step to the other. Even if he were to fall, they were there, ready and willing to catch him at a moment's notice. No matter how much of the burden was his to bear, Echo'a was not alone in this.

Urianger spoke up as the last of the crowd wandered off. "During thy convalescence, we considered the most efficacious method for reaching the depths of the Tempest and I believe we have arrived at an elegant solution."

He tipped his head back to look up at Urianger only for the world to keep moving. Urianger's arm was against his back as he was certain his legs gave out with the vertigo. A rushing sound filled his ears as he clamped his eyes shut in hopes it would get the world to stop spinning. Vaguely he thought he heard someone talking.

Skittering pain not unlike a foot that had fallen asleep only ten times worse, assaulted his entire right side. Adrenaline shot through him as he brought his hand up to defend himself, eyes snapping open to find whatever was harming him only to find Alphinaud kneeling at his side, hands still alight with healing magics, looking bewildered at his sudden reaction.

Urianger was kneeling again with Echo'a half cradled in his arms while Alphinaud healed him.

But if Alphinaud's magic hurt - healing magic that he was ridiculously familiar with-

He sought out Y'shtola and Urianger's gaze but was only met with startled confusion on both their parts. If they had nothing for this- if Alphinaud couldn't heal him-

He couldn't breathe, couldn't get a handle on the panic that was quickly spiraling into full on terror. Words were being said to him but a lot of it was noise blending with his pounding heart and ragged breathing.

Y'shtola's voice became louder than the noise as her face filled his vision. "You have to calm down, Echo'a. Start with your breathing. Match mine."

He tried to, tried to follow as she counted and forced his breathing to slow but it only made him feel even more suffocated and that just made the whole spiraling even worse-

Thancred's scent hit him first. He couldn't remember closing his eyes but it didn't matter because he knew that smell, knew those hands that buried themselves in his hair on either side of his head, knew the voice that curled around him in the small space Thancred made between them, knew the press of the man's forehead against his own.

Echo'a grabbed at Thancred's arms, a choked noise escaping from his throat. "I know. I know; I've got you." Thancred's voice was gruff but gentle, coaxing even as the man kept talking. "You can feel my hands in your hair, right?" He gave a shallow nod. "How about under your hands? What are you grabbing hold of?" His breath hitched at that. He couldn't- the words wouldn't- "Easy, Echo'a. It's ok. You're ok. You know I don't care how long it takes but I do need you to try and say it for me, ok?" He nodded in Thancred's hold. "What are you holding on to?"

Gloves; all he had to say was gloves. He could manage that for Thancred. He could. He knew he could. It was an easy word even if his mouth couldn't seem to form the word anymore.

When it finally fell past his lips, it was barely more than a garbled attempt at the sounds.

It seemed to be enough for Thancred, though. One of Thancred's hands carded through his hair before settling back into place. "There it is. Good job, kid. You're doing great. And what do my gloves have on them? What your fingers are hooked around." He tightened his grip on them but he floundered for the word, absently shaking his head. Again, one of Thancred's hands carded through his hair. "It's ok. Take your time. You can manage it just as you did the first question."

Belts came first but he knew that was wrong. So were ties and bands but that was all that was coming to mind. He shook his head harder this time, managing a weak, "I can't."

"Yes you can. You're smart like that." Thancred's grip flexed in his hair. "Any word that fits, Echo'a. Doesn't have to be what I always call them."

"Belts," came off his tongue like a whip crack.

Thancred chuckled. "You must have been stewing on that one. Can you count how many with your eyes closed for me?" Thancred must have been watching his face because the man's words were amused as he said, "Humor me."

He traced first with his right and then his left, finding oddly, "Three?" even as he went looking for the fourth.

"Three buckled, at least. Think you can find the fourth and put it back without looking?"

His fingers brushed the length of leather hanging from Thancred's glove. He scrunched his face at the request but complied. It required both hands but he did manage it. The buckle clicked closed as Thancred pulled in a slow breath as he worked; instinctively, he matched it.

A deep shudder raced down his body, taking with it the tension that had settled there. His hands fell from Thancred's gloves as he was suddenly able to breathe deeper.

"That's it," Thancred said as he got his eyes open again. Thancred had pulled back but not enough to ruin the small bubble he had made between them. "There you are. Welcome back."

"Thank you."

Thancred shrugged, finally sitting back and drawing his hands away. "After everything you've been through, a panic attack was bound to happen." Thancred gave him a stern look. "And that means no apologizing. No one method works all the time and you know that. All too well."

"As should I," Y'shtola said, stepping up behind Thancred. "Enough at least to realize the method I was using was not working."

Thancred stood with a grunt, answering in his stead, "That one's fine if he's not too far into the panic. Makes him panic more when he can't breathe."

When it became apparent no one was going to fill the vacancy Thancred left behind, he interjected. "Where's Alphinaud?"

Thancred gestured to the side. Sure enough, barely a few paces away was Alphinaud sitting sandwiched between Alisaie and Ryne. Alphinaud's head came up at the sound of his name but when he met Echo'a's gaze, Alphinaud was quick to drop it. He reached for Alphinaud anyway, watching as something close to pain played across Alphinaud's face before Alisaie rolled her eyes and shoved at him. Alphinaud scrambled to his feet and, even though he glanced back as if he'd follow through with the thought of sitting back down, Alphinaud crossed the short distance and took Echo'a's outstretched hand.

Echo'a tugged him in close, grateful when the other's forehead pressed against his shoulder. Had he the capacity, he would have wrapped his arm across Alphinaud's back. Instead he had to settle with pinning the other's hand to his chest. He looked to Y'shtola and quickly spoke before Alphinaud could start apologizing - or begging for forgiveness, both of which were unnecessary. "You were watching when he tried healing me, correct?" She nodded. "What did you see?"

"Not anything definitive." Her gaze narrowed. "You disrupted the process too soon for me to have concluded anything. If you want the answers you seek, he'll have to try and heal you again."

Alphinaud was quick to jump in. "If it should cause him pain-"

"Simply transferring aether should be sufficient enough if you would rather not," Y'shtola countered easily.

"That is not-"

He squeezed Alphinaud's hand. "Alphinaud, please." The panic was trying to rise in his chest again. "It is very likely I will require healing at some point. I would much rather discover now why it had caused so much discomfort than when we are in the midst of a fight."

The conflict was plain on Alphinaud's face but he knew he had won the argument. With a heavy sigh, Alphinaud repositioned himself at Echo'a's side. "I expect you to tell me to cease before it becomes unbearable."

"You know I can't promise that."

Alphinaud's shoulders fell. "Unfortunately."

The weave of aether washed over him and with it came the sensation that there were pins and needles beneath every inch of skin. A shudder raced through his body and it was all he could do to not burrow himself deeper into Urianger's embrace to avoid the sensation completely. He pressed his face to Urianger's chest as a compromise but all it did was make him want to scream. He jumped when hands closed around his - a grip normally so comforting now exceedingly painful - and his startled gaze fell onto Thancred. Thancred held his gaze for a moment, squeezing his hands, before focusing on Alphinaud.

He tried counting the seconds but the pain became too much too quickly. He tried to pull his hands from Thancred's but the man held fast. Even Urianger's grip never wavered as Echo'a started squirming, ere long until he was outright thrashing.

The healing ceased abruptly but the sensation did not. It took nearly as long to subside as his panic attack.

Y'shtola spoke up as he finally calmed. "How peculiar." Y'shtola was within his line of sight when he got his eyes back open. She met his gaze. "It would seem that there was more to Ryne's binding of the Light than we first presumed. Due to the nature of the Light and how intertwined it was with your aether when she suppressed it, she inadvertently bound your aether as well. Not enough to hinder any magic use but enough that it has effectively separated your aether from your body. I would surmise the sensation you are feeling is akin to sensation returning to a sleeping limb as Alphinaud's aether essentially fills in the gap between your aether and your body, returning sensation, so to speak."

"Thus why aether discharge was not occurring despite the lack of injury to heal," Alphinaud said, sounding awed. When he glanced at Alphinaud's expression, he found something more akin to horror.

"Correct. An aether transfer would most likely be more effective but there id no telling how long it will last."

He asked, "How much of that gap did Alphinaud manage to fill before he stopped?"

The brief pause was telling. "The majority of the gap remains unfilled. I would suggest trying an actual aether transfer if you wish to fill it."

"Please."

"Echo'a-" Alphinaud started but he shook his head.

"I didn't know my body was exhausted, couldn't tell I needed to eat, to rest, and if I can't gauge that, then how can I tell if I've overexerted myself during a fight? You said yourself once that it wouldn't be good if the Warrior of Light collapsed during any given confrontation."

A careful hand found his hair and he flinched from the skittering of pins and needles that lingered. He looked up and found it had been Alisaie. She was looking at Y'shtola, though, when she asked, "But here, though? Wouldn't it be better if we did the rest in private. The middle of a walkway certainly isn't ideal if we're keeping any of this quiet."

Thancred shrugged. "There isn't anyone around and it would be easy to redirect people if we really need to. The people certainly seemed amicable to our whims when they had offered their help."

He covered Alisaie's hand. "And I want to leave as soon as possible. The longer I stay here, the higher risk we put on the Crystarium."

She slipped her other hand under his, pressing her forehead to the back of his hand briefly. "Fine, but I'm giving aether too."

He caught Y'shtola's gaze. She smiled gently. "As long as you allow it, I doubt it will matter."

Urianger's arm flexed under him. He returned his head to Urianger's shoulder, closing his eyes. "If they are willing, I will take it. The faster the gap is filled, the faster the sensation goes away."

"It may make it worse," Y'shtola warned.

He shrugged. "I've lived through worse."

"Fair enough. Thancred, why don't you take him from Urianger for the time being."

"Alright," was Thancred's gruff reply as people moved about him. He didn't bother opening his eyes let alone moving until Thancred's arm slipped under his back against Urianger's. "Come here, kid." For a brief moment his gaze flickered open, seeking to help make the shift easier but all that happened was Urianger tipped Echo'a into Thancred's chest and Thancred adjusted how he was kneeling before tucking Echo'a's head against his shoulder and neck. Echo'a closed his eyes as Thancred ran a hand over his hair and ear. "Should be a quick experience, at least," Thancred muttered to him before he felt the man look elsewhere and nod.

"Alright," Y'shtola announced. "If everyone's ready, then."

For a breath nothing happened.

The next had aether - familiar aether at that - washing over him.

The pain was excruciating.

It was nothing like being turned into a sin eater - he was grateful for that - but it certainly hurt in a way that he couldn't exactly describe, much in the same way that there was the natural aversion to touching a waking limb full of pins and needles. He was fairly certain he tried to jerk out of Thancred's hold but there were no memories to back that certainty up. As the pain receded - faster this time, thankfully - he found his throat felt raw and his chest ached like he had been screaming.

Twelve may he not have actually screamed.

There was chatter over his head, hands flittering across his head or hands, a brief change of arms at his back, before something was draped over him. Whatever it was brought warmth with it and he curled into it, freezing and in pain and aware of his body in a way that left him concerned for other reasons.

Thancred brushed his hand against Echo'a's cheek and into his hair, running over an ear on the second pass. "How are you feeling, kid?"

"Like shit," he ground out, his voice too low to carry far beyond Thancred. Thancred snorted. "But it's hells of a lot better than the disconnect I had been feeling." He pressed his face against Thancred's neck even more, seeking both the man's warmth and to hide from his realization. "I don't want to be like that again."

Thancred's hand settled at the back of his head. "And we won't let you if we have any say in it."

A different hand found his neck and he turned his head enough to meet Y'shtola's gaze. "It worked," he told her, forcing his voice loud enough to carry properly. "I don't feel great but at least I can tell something's wrong now." He shifted under what turned out to be Thancred's coat. "Like how my body's too cold. How I'm not shivering like crazy right now is concerning."

Thancred's arms tightened around him as Y'shtola said, "That will correct itself with time so don't fret too much over it."