Traveler

"Azlyn!"

The girl had briefly teleported into Mor Dhona, her eyes were trained up toward the skies seeing the great expanse of the pearly stars. The weather had cleared up well enough to see beyond the cloud fronts, and even the temperature had been comfortable.

She turned her attention downward now, as a group of rambunctious Doman children charged to her.

"Azlyn! Azlyn! We waited for you to come back!" Koharu crossed her arms over her chest. "You didn't forget your promise did you?"

Yozan nodded fervently. "You promised us we'd go stargazing!"

"The weather's finally cleared up so you're keeping your promises, right!?" The third child of the group piped up.

Azlyn hadn't expected such a grand welcome, even so from the kids just moments after she arrived. She scratched her cheek meekly. "I… didn't forget…" And nervously turned up to the tall brick-lain buildings.

She didn't have time to train for the heights much less anything else.

"Yay! You hear that Yozan! She's going to keep her promise!"

The children cheered around her, which seemed to gather some attention as a few burly adventurers chuckled to her. She offered a wave to them as they passed, as she suppressed the feelings of embarrassment.

"Alright, alright—calm down now." Azlyn cleared her throat. "I just have one last thing to do with the Scions, and then we'll head up to the rooftop." She pointed upward. "Make sure to bring some blankets in case it gets colder—and get permission from sir Hozan."

The five children saluted to her instructions—before running straight into the open market place of Revenant's Toll. With a little bit of time she had, it would be in hers and the kids interests to make sure the Antecedent made it safely back.

While she had nothing to worry, as Minfillia seemed to know how best to take care of herself, she was concerned about the sudden appearances and recent events regarding this white clad Ascian.

"Elidibus… huh?" Azlyn shook her head. "Next time we meet, it shall be as friends…? I highly doubt those words." She stepped up to the Seventh Heaven bar, pulling open the doors to the lit interior of the establishment. A bard had been plucking away at his harp, singing tales of… She paused mid step.

Dawn may banish even the darkest night,

Yet ever shall primal desires burn.

Two Swords shall vie to lay thee low—

A blade born of light and a blade forged of might.

Alas, man may entrust his fate unto but one.

Azlyn stopped as she heard this minstrel echo the words of the previous Archon—those words were that of Louisoix. She recalled them on numerous occasions—some of which had been reiterated to her during her travels.

Although the main culprit had been Urianger. He had been adamant of her reading the late Archon's journals.

She slowly made her way to the crowded bar counter, finding a stool to sit upon as she listened to this wandering minstrel play his melodic tune. She found his singing impeccable—someone who was well traveled and had experienced the lands—as she listened to him sing.

"And my last song of the evening is dedicated to a very special group—you all know them as Warriors of Light—and we are quite lucky to be all together in this room to sing their praises. So please, be merry and relax as I end our show with these words."

His fingers expertly plucked the harp's strings—the rhythms were quickened as if to indicate an intense battle. Azlyn closed her eyes, listening to the song.

From an era long forgotten

A blade of midnight drawn

From a distant land uncharted

A warrior who bears the dawn

It appeared the minstrel had been well informed of their fight against the empire—as he sung more upon their triumphs against Gaius and the Ultima Weapon. She could see it in her mind's eye—being back on that freight elevator shaft with the Praetorium burning around them. She could feel the intense heat, the gnawing anxiety bubble in her stomach, and could smell the heavy smoke and remembered how watery her eyes were.

That was an incredibly tough fight. But they survived. They lived, and now even bards sing of their tales.

As the show reached it's conclusion, the wandering minstrel bowed to his audience that had grown three fold in the bar. A round of applause erupted as he smiled and waved.

"This may be one of my best works yet. I hope I was able to dictate the intensity of the fight with the Empire with my song."

There were some that hollered in response, while others happily went back to their drinks. She smiled, reaching into her satchel to pull out her journal. She tore a page out, after scribbling her thank you note, and handed it to the bartender to pass along to the bard.

With that now done, she snuck her way to the back of the building. The door that separated the noisy bar would inevitably lead into the new headquarters of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.

And was much quieter comparatively.

She had not seen Thancred in his usual spot, nor Y'shtola by the table—Tataru and F'lhaminn were chatting at the counter when Azlyn popped over beside the receptionist to say her hellos.

"Good evening! Did Minfillia come back safe and sound?"

A soft chuckle from behind her answered that question, as Minfillia exited her chambers. She was dressed comfortably now that the primal Leviathan had been taken care of. It seemed the pair at the counter had been waiting for the Antecedent to join them.

"I did indeed. Welcome back."

Azlyn smiled warmly before pulling out one of the stools for her. Minfillia accepted it with her own smile and looked to Tataru. F'lhaminn had already begun distributing cups and pouring beverages for them.

The Au Ra took her spot standing at the edge of the counter so that she wasn't too far from their chat.

"I have been reflecting upon the events which took place during our visit to Vylbrand." Minfillia spoke at last. She took a long sip before placing the cup back down on the tiny saucer. "If you all don't mind—I would share my conclusions with you."

Tataru smiled brightly, happy that Minfillia had been openly discussing her recent outing.

"Of course my Lady! We'd enjoy that."

"Anything you have to say Ascilla is welcome."

Azlyn nodded. "I've been thinking about the last few events in Vylbrand as well, so this might be a good exercise to clear the mind—so to speak." She grinned, lifting up her glass.

"Thank you." Minfillia took a long deep breath before jumping into her thoughts. "When the Sahagin elder summoned Leviathan, he employed the power we have come to know as the Echo. Though I can't well explain the how of it, it would seem he became immortal in so doing. When the Admiral subsequently slew him, his spirit emerged from his lifeless flesh, a consciousness shorn of physical form."

"—Which then took over another Sahagin." Azlyn remembered the grisly details. "Just like putting on another coat."

F'lhaminn cupped her chin with a bit of worry. "That is most troublesome. How would one beat something if it were immortal?"

Azlyn tapped her fingers in the same rhythm as one of the bard's earlier songs. "Well we didn't. Leviathan took care of that part by draining all of the Elder's aether and his spirit alongside with it."

Minfillia had been glad for her subsequent explanation, happy that they appeared to be on the same page. "Long have I known that the Echo allows one to pass through the walls of a man's soul. But never did I imagine that it could free us from our own flesh, nor less that our souls could then occupy the next corporeal vessel to take our fancy."

"That oddly sounds like the motif of our Ascian buddies." The Au Ra frowned, stopping her rhythmic beating upon the wood to circle the edge of her cup with her finger. "The Echo grants interesting and unique powers—from changing weapons on the fly, to seeing the past or future of a soul, to be able to tell truth from fiction—I'm curious to know what else the Mother Crystal has in store for us."

"You are correct Azlyn. And it would seem these events also align with that of Elidibus. It was this that he spoke—an existence which knows neither cessation nor oblivion. Yet, though the Sahagin had mastered his gift and thereby became immortal—he was, as Azlyn mentioned was his demise—he was by no means invulnerable."

"We both witnessed him getting absorbed into Leviathan at any rate." Azlyn shook her head. "My concern were the Elder's words upon his coming demise…" Curse you, Emissary! You promised me—everlasssting—pssshhhh. She sighed. "Elidibus called himself an Emissary once before—and I find the coincidence that the Elder cursing him near the end of his time."

Tataru hummed worriedly. "Well if anything—if what you both are saying is right—that means that these Ascians are likely able to be killed as well… given the right situations."

Azlyn gasped. "No—yeah, Tataru that's right!"

Minfillia smiled with a firm nod. "Yes. If the Ascian's mode of existence is indeed the same, it can be inferred that they, too, are not invulnerable—and like Tataru stated, they can be destroyed."

"But…" The girl now looked to her cup filled with beverage. It was in this moment that Azlyn shook her brain of her thoughts. This was a good step forward—there was no need to bring it down with her concerns. "Never mind."

"You can speak your mind Azlyn, this is an open counter for all." F'lhaminn offered her.

Azlyn did her best to reassure them. "So with this new information, do you think we can find the means to destroy Lahabrea? Or any of these other Ascians that threaten our realm?"

It was in this moment Minfillia pulled out a small journal from her robe. She flipped it open to midway before nodding. "There exists a legend which tells of souls who are reborn upon the cusp of each Umbral Calamity, that they might slay the encroaching darkness." She turned another page and laid it down. In front of them shown an illustration of what the writer depicted as the "souls reborn" to fight the darkness. "To most, this is but a fairy tale, yet recent events have given me cause to wonder. Could the legend in fact refer to the Echo?"

This raised a bit of intrigued within the scholar as it was interesting to notate. After all, souls being reborn time and time again, with powers unlike the realm could know to fight off an impending doom…? Azlyn knew the tales, had read them before in Sharlayan when she wanted to get lost in fiction—but it was hard to believe it real.

"Much and more yet remains unknown but I am confident that all will become clear in time. For the present time, however, what matters is that the key to defeating the Ascians may at last be within sight."

They all nodded to that.

"With Urianger aid, it is my hope that I shall fathom this matter ere long." Minfillia ended with a strong finish.

Tataru reached over to pour some more of the prepared herbal tea into Minfillia's empty cup. "And we shall once more find the time to help restore Eorzea to a new dawn! But enough for now about this dreary stuff! What should we decide on for dinner!"

They were happily chatting now, where F'lhaminn started to offer up some dishes she could prepare with the ingredients they had on hand. Azlyn was about to say she wouldn't be able to stay, as she promised the children to go stargazing—only to be interrupted.

The doors from the front slammed open, and they all—along with several other Scions whom were resting in the open communal space turned to see Urianger dashing into the halls. He was out of breath, a bit of sweat rolling down his face.

"Ah! I was just about to send for you, my friend—is aught amiss?" Minfillia turned on the stool, giving him a worried glance over.

Urianger seemed to linger on Azlyn, before turning back to Minfillia. His jaw tightened as he spoke with as much poise as he could muster.

"Grave tidings from the Sharlayan Motherland. It doth concern our distant allies, the Students of Baldesion." He ignored Azlyn's jolt upward as he shook his head.

Minfillia looked between Azlyn and Urianger. Her voice lowered as concern pierced her tone. "What of them?"

The Au Ra could feel the temperature drop, as her back's muscles tightened around her shoulders. She thought back to the heavily drenched letter, wondering if it held the bad news Urianger rushed over to report.

"I apologize for my abruptness. My Lady, the Isle of Val… is no more."

Azlyn's dread intensified, as she felt a sickening feeling plunge deep within her chest to her stomach. Her hand immediately went to her link pearl, only for Minfillia to reach out and grasp her wrist.

She sadly shook her head. "If you are attempting to call—I've tried calling Krile numerous times before… and she didn't answer."

"—What?" Her purple eyes widened. "How long has this been happening? How long hasn't she… or Archon Baldesion… or…" Her throat tightened unable to call out her best friend's name. She darted between the pair, as F'lhaminn worriedly stared. "No more? Urianger, what does that mean?"

The girl turned to him looking for answers they'd apparently kept from her. She wondered if the others had an idea something happened too. They were acting… odd. She also thought it weird when Ozwin asked her when her last correspondence had been.

"I relate only that which hath been conveyed unto me by our agents. An aetheric wave of the highest magnitude was recorded in the region. Soon thereafter, 'twas observed that the isle had ceased to be. 'Tis postulated that a magick was evoked, like in power to Ultima."

Azlyn lowered both of her palms to the counter. Minfillia gave her a reassuring pat on the top of her hand before shaking her head. She too had a grim expression one that seemingly matched her own. "Azlyn, we know the Isle was your home—we didn't want to worry you…"

"It's… I…" She couldn't seem to focus. She backed away from the counter, before activating a teleport. Of course her first thoughts had been her home on Val, but that teleport failed as she felt her body drop back down to the ground. She grit her teeth, while the other Scions who'd heard watched her with such sadness in their eyes.

She couldn't stand it. The helplessness, the fact that she couldn't do anything. She stormed out instead, not bothering with the teleport at all. She vaguely remembered someone calling to her, perhaps Minfillia? Or maybe it was F'lhaminn?

Inside the building—the Rising Stones, the bar—it felt like everything was closing inwards. Like a terrible sense of claustrophobia had overcome her—she knew that feeling well—it matched how she felt when she was high up in the sky.

Escaping the crowded bars, ignoring the stares from a few patrons, she finally made it outside to the cool, crisp aetherically charged air of Revenant's Toll. From here she could see the horizon far beyond the walls, the bits of empyrean sky ship—the Silverlake—the gigantic crystal tower that seemed to give off an iridescent glow.

Why did everything look beautiful when it seemed like a part of her world shattered into shards of glass.

"See sir, look! There here she is! We told you we wouldn't be going into the bar for nothing!"

"Azlyn!"

A part of her snapped out of the dismal dark she'd found herself to see Koharu waving excitedly to her. The group of Doman children had blankets and pillows stuffed under their arms. The one bouncer standing by the door to not allow minors in gave Azlyn an incredulous look.

"Ah… sorry, I told them to wait for me…" Azlyn had been surprised at how well she sounded, despite the bomb that went off in her mind moments prior.

"Well if that's all—then scat from the bar—we can't have kids running and playing in front of here. Rowena would have our heads."

Azlyn nervously scratched the side of her cheek. "Hey guys, sorry for making you wait—you ready?"

Yozan bobbed his head excitedly up and down. "Yeah! Let's go!"

Koharu ran over to her side, interlacing her fingers in between her own. "This guy thought we were causing trouble! But we're only here to pick you up!" The girl beamed to Azlyn.

"I'm sorry for the wait. Truly."

"That's no worries! We have all night to stargaze! Look, that one's super bright!" A younger lad mentioned, he was one of the few quiet ones that she wasn't able to get his name.

They left the front side before the bouncer could get further agitated, and made their way upward to the highest spot they could find. It took a bit of exploration and climbing a few set of stairways before they came to a nice spot. They were on the rooftop alcove, a bit higher than the walkways upon the top of the walls.

It didn't appear as if anyone had been using this spot, nor would it seem like anyone would mind as they were on the outskirts of Revanant's Toll's tallest building with the spiring extensions. The kids all laid out their blankets and pillows, plopping down and gazing upward. Azlyn didn't have much choice as she was placed in the middle of the group.

"Oh! Oh! Check out that cluster of stars!"

"They're so bright!"

"Do you know what that cluster is called?"

"It might be Behemoth's constellation." Azlyn offered. There were a ton of constellations high in the aetheric sky, many of which she had some idea. If they looked just below that constellation they would see the North Star, shining brightly. "The North Star's just below it."

"The moon is super bright too!"

"Ah, I believe the Sharlayan's refer to Hydaelyn's moon as Menphina." Azlyn casually jumped in with what she knew—all those years crammed into lectures to learn about different events and things. "There used to be another moon—the scholars assumed it was Menphina's guardian moon—but it's no more."

The Calamity took care of that—alongisde Bahamut's rage. The kids listened intently before diving into other questions regarding the red moon she knew as Dalamud. She answered as best as she could, without revealing too much about their recent events dealing with the Allagan outposts where Dalamud's fallen pieces remained.

The scars of the recent past still existed to this day, and many still worried about the future. She recalled the moogles who had summoned King Mog Moggle XII from his slumber—and could only wonder what the future would really be like.

Yozan plucked himself up from the blanket, finally pointing to the giant crystal tower in the distance. "Azlyn, what's that place? The giant crystal thing—I overheard some adventurer's saying it just appeared out of nowhere!"

Now that was a curious thing. Azlyn sat up, staring to the enormous structure in the distance. "I… don't know to be honest. Perhaps someone at the distant camp will know more about it?"

She recalled the Sons of Saint Coinarch wold be posted out there—as she'd worked with Archon Rammbroes regarding the summoning rites of austerities—and wondered if he knew about the… the demise of the Students of Baldesion.

The kids didn't notice her slight frown, nor the fervent downward glance as her eyes narrowed. They continued to chat about other things then, how life was, how their parents and guardians were handling the new work, what it was like for them—Azlyn rebounded back from her thoughts to smile.

Time had passed, before the voices of the children died down—as she looked down to see them sleeping soundly by her side. Koharu had been latched to her hand, sleeping soundly. One of the boys had lightly snored. Azlyn chuckled softly, looking up to the stars once more.

"Looks like they fell asleep."

Azlyn turned to look behind her, seeing a group of Domans quietly coming up. Azlyn recognized Hozan.

"They must have been tired." She offered before seeing the children get taken down for the night. Hozan remained until the end, before reaching down to grab his son. The blankets and pillows had been gathered, leaving only Azlyn to stay behind.

"Try not to stay up too late Miss Azlyn—and thank you for indulgencing the children."

She shook her head, smiling softly. "I'm happy they were able to enjoy the moment, even for the briefest of times."

With their goodbyes in place, Azlyn remained. Given that she wanted to be alone, this seemed a perfectly good opportunity. She went to lean upon one of the spires, crossing her arms over her chest deep in thought. Her parents gone—now her home.

She wondered if the Gods were making sure she'd be traveling instead of ever returning home. Then her thoughts went to the children—and to all the researchers—all the people who resided on that island away from the mainland.

She felt a lone tear slide down her cheek, before she angrily wiped it away. Only for another to join it, and another. She rubbed her eyes to the point they stung. There was a brief sound behind her, the lightest of footsteps. She froze in place, before rubbing her sleeve harshly upon her face.

"Who's there." Azlyn's tone had been harsher than before, her throat tightened. She waited, only silence greeted her instead. When she felt composed enough to turn on her foot, she did, and faltered upon seeing the white clad Ascian standing a few feet behind her. Their face covered by a red mask had been upward, looking to the stars. "Elidibus… To what do I owe this honor…"

"—Did I not say for the next we meet, it'd be as friends?" His hood obscured his face from view, as it did with all the Ascians she'd first met.

"I'm not in the mood." Azlyn started to walk away, her back to him.

"Why is that?"

Her eye twitched. She decided not to answer, but instead chose to look at the distant tower. Her silence seemed to illicit a different reaction, as he chuckled instead. It appeared that he was observing her closely.

"Perhaps congratulations are in order now that you have destroyed Leviathan." It seemed as if he didn't care whether she was in the mood. "Have you learned more on the Echo?"

She stopped, turning back to face him. "Did you think I would miss the fact that you taught the Elder Sahagin how to become eternal? Those words did not escape my notice."

He chuckled slowly, redirecting his attention from the night sky. "Right to the heart of it. No matter. Indeed, there may have been truth from that of the Elder—but did you learn of the reason as it why I went to such lengths?"

Azlyn crossed her arms once more, glaring. "Isn't this a disadvantage to your brethren, as we have the idea that you are not invulnerable by any means. You all may be able to pass from one physical form to another but it doesn't necessarily mean you can escape death."

"It seems the lesson has proven to bear fruit." HIs tone had a lighter tone to it, one with a bit of mirthful laugh. "But don't underestimate them. After all we have been around for a very long time."

"And don't underestimate us—because we all have one reason or another to take the Ascians down." Azlyn darkly glowered to him. "If that's all, I will excuse myself for the night." Almost as habit, she bowed only to falter midway. Instead she clenched her fists to her side.

"What has upset you so much, perhaps something happened?"

Azlyn didn't want to share. The thought of sharing her thoughts with a potential enemy just rubbed her the wrong way. However his tone at the end of his question made her wonder if he even knew what was happening. She frowned.

"You wish to keep to yourself? No matter. I heard some interesting news myself, an island disappearing from the face of Hydaelyn." Elidibus spoke nonchalantly, ignoring the girl's attempt to leave. "My apologies, it would seem you wish to be alone."

"I swear to the Dawn Father and Hydaelyn that I will make the one responsible pay—and if I find out you or your Ascian brethren had a hand in this—I will make sure to follow through with my promise."

Elidibus chuckled to her veiled threat, finally catching the attention she was trying not to give. "Be at ease child of Hydaelyn—I had no hand in that scheme. Why are you upset, this has been a thing for quite some time—oh!" He stopped, raising a hand to the cowl of his white robes. "Unless this is the first time you've heard it. I thought your friends and the Scions would inform you of such a grave thing."

"Enough." Azlyn growled, clenching her jaw. "You're schemes won't work if you think you can turn my trust against them."

"But I was not the one who said it, but you?" He chuckled deviously, leaving her speechless. A dark portal emerged before he slowly walked toward it. "Be at ease, warrior of light, in the future I foresee us working together for some time. After all, this world is but a fleeting illusion. You're intelligent—you'll learn of what must needs be done."

She watched him disappear into his portal, leaving the quiet space atop the building with her feeling the sense of broiling unease. Azlyn looked upward to the stars once more, as she bit her lower lip.

"I'm not going to do like you believe…" She promised. "I won't… because I have… I have…" She stammered off unsure of what fate had in store for her. She lost herself in thought, staring up to the clusters of stars.

She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest and leaned upon one of the pylons. "I should head back down."