The blue shimmer of aether lingered in Alphinaud's thoughts. His mind kept running back to Koana as they walked slowly back to the aetheryte in the center of Kozama'uka. Wuk Lamat assured them all was well, and how proud she felt of her brother, but it didn't sit well with Alphinaud. He felt, deep down in his heart, that she had done it the right way. She'd brightened the spirits of the Hanu Hanu with the festival, thus replenishing their crops in a way that maintained the old tradition and brought joy to the people. Which in the end did much more for the people.
But did that go against his teachings as a scholar? A person who should applaud innovation in all of its forms? After all, the solution Koana brought to the Hanu Hanu was innovative. In fact, it would save them much hardship when disastrous events took place. It took the heart out of it, but replaced it with pure efficiency. That in no way meant they'd need to stop their festival, though it did take some of the meaning from it.
But wouldn't it be better that way? Not having to rely on something proven to be unreliable, if not tended to properly. It only took a few generations to forget the festival's importance. What stopped the generation after this from forgetting again as well? Their reeds would wither again, and who would remind them next time? Such history tended to repeat itself, he'd come to learn.
"Alphinaud, I know that look on your face," Alisaie whispered beside him. She'd slowed her brutal pace to walk with him, as he'd fallen well behind the pack.
"I'm fine, Alisaie."
"I didn't say you weren't well, I said I knew the look on your face."
"Then tell me your thoughts on it, dear sister."
"Not if you're going to take that tone with me." He sighed and lifted his hand to his chin. Sometimes, he wished she couldn't read him as if he were a Studium text. "It's troubling you, I know. A part of me wanted to knock that little look off his face. But…another part of me saw merit in his answer."
"It's not only a solution, it's a good solution."
"Agreed. It would take the burden off of the festival. Though, unless he shared what he'd created, it does take their self-sufficiency from them."
"Ahh, that's true." He nodded.
Mayhaps that had been what had bothered him. It took all agency from the Hanu Hanu and put it into his hands. Not unexpected for a Sharlayan scholar, but somehow not what he felt expected of the Dawnservant. Did he desire to be the one all of Tural came to for answers? Did he understand the burden it would be? And was that what Tural needed? Or what the Turali people really wanted? Surely they wanted to be able to solve problems themselves.
But he couldn't say he knew the Turali enough to know that for sure. Erenville and Wuk Lamat didn't give him that impression, but maybe people expected more than a guide out of the Dawnservant. Maybe they did expect someone who would be able to answer their questions without fault.
"You're still making that face, Alphinaud."
"I just can't help myself from wondering…what do the Turali want? Which of their Promises provides what they actually want? Do we know them well enough to decide that?"
"Firstly, we aren't deciding. If Wuk Lamat wins, it's because the people helped her as well. They wanted her to win too." He nodded in agreement. He did appreciate how she thought sometimes. It helped untangle the thoughts in his own mind. "Secondly, we both know the people don't really want what the First Promise wants or what Bakool Ja want. They think they do, but we know how those paths end."
"But what about Koana? His innovations could genuinely help the lives of people in Tural."
"Innovation without any heart, though? I think we've also seen some of that."
His thoughts went back to Garlemald. They did indeed know where those paths led. Nothing but misery and strife awaited those who followed a similar path. A growing empire was a hungry empire and would cannibalize its own people to sate its hunger. Even innovation could lead them down a troublesome path, if not handled the right way or dispassionately. Perhaps if he and Alisaie worked to spread news of how Garlemald fared after the fall of its regime, they might understand. They could get in contact with people they knew in Garlemald to tell them about life during the turmoil.
But no, they didn't have that sort of time. Even if they did, would it stop the First Promise? They all seemed determined on their path. The one thing the Promises did share. It amazed him how otherwise different the three siblings were from one another. He and Alisaie had their differences, but he didn't think he'd ever go out of his way to undermine her. They were in a competition, yes, but they didn't show much respect for one another either. Not in a way he understood. Mayhaps another reason it had sat unwell with him.
"I had something on my mind, as well," Alisaie commented. He peeked up from his ponderings and saw the duress it had pressed into her face.
"Oh? And what is that?"
"Did you catch what he said? He mentioned archons helping him."
"I did catch that, yes." He'd tried to brush the thought away. Wuk Lamat was hardly disadvantaged by being short one or two archons, considering her allies. "Who do you think they are?"
"I could hazard a guess. It isn't as if we don't know a majority of them. And which are more predisposed to meddling in affairs outside Sharlayan."
"Hmm, I don't think Rammbroes would come out all this way." He cut a glare over at her before she started her giggling fit. "I jest! But what are the chances, you think?"
"We said the same about seeing Estinien in the palace."
"Fair enough."
"Though, glad as I was to see him, I can't help but wonder why he's here."
"His own amusement if, I had to guess. I doubt he'd have any enlightening motives outside of that. And he certainly wouldn't qualify for an archon, not even if he tried."
He held off a chuckle that would earn him a swift strike. She still held on to the little grudge she had over his mistake. In fairness, it tended to be a sore point for both of them, though to hear Alisaie tell it he'd committed an atrocity mankind had yet to find a punishment great enough for.
"Well, if these are perhaps archons we know — and know well — we'll have to prove ourselves good competition for them."
"With Lunaire on our side, I think we well surpass 'good' competition."
"Agreed. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't give it our best."
"Alphinaud, when haven't I given something my all?"
"Hmm, well, if you give me a moment…I may not have enough fingers on both hands to count…I know at least a few assignments…"
His ears would probably be ringing for the next few bells after how hard her hand hit the back of his head. But he needed a good laugh — and maybe a well-deserved strike from Alisaie — to bring himself back to form. Wuk Lamat needed them at their best if they wanted to be good allies. She quickened her pace to the village, but Alphinaud felt no need to hurry. He'd manage to dredge himself from his concerns, with her help of course, and now he needed to ready himself for their next trial.
He bid the Hanu Hanu farewell — after complimenting a few on their beautiful plumage — as he stepped towards the aetheryte to teleport himself back to Tuliyollal. Lunaire planned to linger a bit, wanting to get to know the locals a little more before she left, so they returned without their trusty warrior of light. The blue shimmer as they teleported back lingered in his vision a little longer than normal, bringing his thoughts back to the aether draft Koana made.
Instead of bringing him down, it reignited him. He would make Wuk Lamat more than a simple challenger to Koana, but an obstacle. He — and whoever his comrades were — would have to overcome them to make it to the city of gold. All of the other competitors would have to. He knew in his heart she'd done things the right way. The people mattered as much as their leader, and that was what she represented. A woman of the people. Thinking of the people in Garlemald had reminded him of that. It strengthened his resolve. They would help Wuk Lamat win, because her people needed it.