Alex puffed on his lit smoke as he leaned back against the pillar and closed his eyes. By the gods his body still hurt like hell despite the healing Cotoka had done. More then that his pride still hurt too. Then again Soren had tried to gut him and slice him into ribbons.
He grimaced as the smoke got lower. Damn… They had been on him during his fight with Soren. Now they were partially dried with his own blood. He chucked the rest off to the side with a heavy sigh.
Aeri had come to save him when he called for her to help him. Even had her precious pet healer, Cotoka, fix him up. He should have been dead. Would have been had it not been for the two ladies. Soren had been enjoying taking his time slicing him up. The poison on those blades causing him as much agony as each blow itself.
Mongrel. That was what Soren had called him. Goaded him into a blind rage by preying on his hatred of his family. Of the things that had happened to him. Alex hadn’t even needed to say anything. Soren had either done his research or gotten lucky with that word punch.
Alex hadn’t felt this low in years. Though the naive nature of the younger healer had greatly amused him for a bit. He was going to have so much fun explaining slang terms to her.
Shouldn’t be out of bed. Yet he needed space. Needed solitude. The night in this part of the Goblet was good enough being that he couldn’t go very far with his injuries.
He had ripped open old scars in talking to Aeri and Cotoka. Not physical ones. A slight snarl on his face at the thought of the old wounds.
Yet Aeri suggested finding a different way to walk his path. To demand more then survival from life. To find more then vengeance. Could he really have what Aeri had found? He wasn’t so sure. He couldn’t even have Aeri as she had found another. There was no one to blame but himself. It had been so much easier to be hated and despised. Something he had grown so used to. What he had done in the past…
Kill the people who created monsters like himself. He could manage that. It at least gave him something to start with. A path for now while he decided what exactly he wanted. More then survival. More then getting the name of the shite of a father that denied him all those years ago.
He stood up with a groan at the aches and pains. Perhaps he’d go soak in the water again. Aeri was allowing him to stay for now while he healed. While he decided where to go from here. He couldn’t change everything but maybe it was possible to teach an old dog a few new tricks.
The day had not disappointed him. Finding Aeri down at the bar near the airships. Of course she would enjoying her bought freedom in Ul’dah. It was one of the few places a criminal could use gil to buy such. The Brass Blades were often easy enough to buy off.
What he had not expected was the way their talk went. Mentions of siblings and his encounter with Lucky in the Goblet.
He had mentioned his discussion with Lucky. A bargain between devils. Information to rescue the pretty princess from her prison and deal with her evil grandfather. In exchange for information he had longed to get his bloody hands on. Information on his own father. Not that he would openly admit who the man was to him. All they needed to know was the man deserved to die for the wrongs he’d done to Alex.
His original intention was to ‘borrow’ a set of Temple Knight attire and watch the show first hand as Lucky went to slaughter. Get an idea of what the boy was capable of before they had their fun.
However Aeri had mentioned something else that seemed more fun. A meeting with her sister. One she had only recently discovered existed. It would mean missing watching Lucky drawing blood from Vladislav. Yet the idea of a sister… Aeri’s sister… THAT was intriguing enough to miss such fun. Not to mention he would still have chances to gut a few people while doing the part of the job she would rather avoid. Going to the place she was banned from. She had wanted to avoid going there unless she had to. He was the solution to that problem.
He wondered if this sister was as much fun in the dark as Aeri. Oh the thought alone was enough to excite him. Besides he could watch Lucky another day. Or even challenge him. The invitation had already been handed anyways.
For now he would head to Limsa and work on the job for Aeri. No charge of course. The romps with Aeri were always more then worth it. Maybe her sister would be better or at least equally good. Only one way to find out. It was time to go play with Aeri’s sister.
(The last couple of days between talks with friends and other things I’ve come up with an idea for Dest. An it continues the plot I had going with her family in Ishgard even. Two parts because it’s late. So this is mostly Dest’s departure. The good stuff will be tomorrow when I’m fresh. I’m feeling better even if still a bit sad. It’s… Hmm. A sadness that will take time to heal but one that might have been for the best in the long run. Only time will tell.)
One last glance. One last parting. Deck of cards and her linkpearl left behind on Rhisi’s desk. Maybe the cards would answer to someone else in time. A moment’s pause to slip something by Nate’s door. This was goodbye.
Thank you for everything. I’m sorry for this. For getting you hurt for nothing. If I come through this by the will of the gods… I’ll come back for this. So please hold on to it for me for now. You have been the most dearest friend I have never deserved. If I don’t return please… Find a way to be happy for me.
The gift he had given her from starlight carefully wrapped in the letter. If she wore it, it would sure meet a grim end. If she survived this… She was definitely coming back for it. She had cried more then enough tears since it had arrived. The letter that diverged her path from that of the people she had chosen to call family.
I’m sorry because I know you are head of security. And that you are protective of those you chose to protect. Please don’t feel bad for what is about to happen. Know I went of my own choice. Please do not come after me. I have to do this on my own. Thank you for everything. You and Raiden both.
One for Yuti. Sweet and caring Yuti.
Yuti,
I’m sorry I didn’t have a true chance to better help you learn. I’ve enjoyed your kind and caring heart. Please never change. Keep helping people. Keep being kind and sweet. If you ever have to seek out my uncle, Ricard Starkweather, for more help in studying. He taught me. Surely he’d be willing to help you if you mentioned me. Goodbye.
Thank you for all that you have taught me in the moons that I have been with the Order. I’m sorry I was never able to really get to know you well despite the time I’ve been with the company. I wish you and Oni many happy years. You are a strong woman and I’m glad to have gotten to work under you.
Another pause at Dusk’s door. Her hand lingering on the wood a moment before finally sliding the note under.
I hope you are truly right about the steel I possess. I’m about to test it to it’s limits. Thank you for all the talks. For generally being like an older sister to me. It has meant the world to me. Maybe if the gods are kind and I make it back we can deal with sending Leon on. I wish you well.
She couldn’t really leave one for C’lest. She remembered the woman was not able to read. That was disappointing. C’lest had been such a help to her. Had helped to try an teach her to defend herself. They had never gotten to finish those lessons. She also left one for Chloe as well. Thanking her and wishing she had had a chance to hear her story. That was something she had never gotten to do. Might never get to do now.
If she lingered too long they would stop her. They would try to convince her there was something else that could be done. This was something she had to do alone. Too much was on the line. This was her problem. She would not drag any more of her precious family in on this.
She paused at the doorway. One last look for however much longer she would remember this place. A place she had chosen to call home for so many moons. She untied the red string at her wrist before letting it fall to the floor at her feet.
“Goodbye… I love you all…”
Now. It had to be now before she lost her nerve. Or before the tears began anew. There was no more time. She focused on the aether to teleport herself away.
One last final stop. One last final goodbye. She owed him that much. Soren… Hopefully he would also pass along the note to Ikara.
Silently she left them at his house in the mailbox. There was no way she dared go inside. He’d question. She’d not have any answers she could give him. Like the rest of her family he would only try to stop her.
Thank you for all that you have done. Please… Just ignore Alexois. Please just stay out of trouble. I’m afraid I won’t be around to fix you up anymore. If you can please pass along the second letter to Ikara. I have to do this and I’m afraid of what might happen. So this is goodbye and I’m sorry.
I’m not sure what happened. I had not got a chance to find out. I’m so sorry I couldn’t say goodbye then or now. I can only hope someday you will forgive me. I hope I was never too hard on you as a healer. I just wanted to keep you safe and you have done so much for me. You have such a bright future ahead of you I’m sure of it. Please keep your chin up. I’ll miss you.
She teleported off again. She looked up to her house. It had been so neglected in all of this. She paused and turned around to look. Alexois was smugly leaning against the railing.
“Go away. I have no time for you.” Destiney said quietly as she turned to start walking in the direction of Chee’s house nearby.
“Well that is a shame. Walking to your death now are you? Shame. I would have liked to play with you more.” Alexois taunted with a sneer as he followed at a slight distance. “I got word of what Vladislav is doing. Here you thought I was bad.”
“Go away. Leave Soren and Lance alone. You’ve won. Just go away.”
Alexois raised a brow at her words. He casually shrugged though she was clearly not looking his way. “Just because you do this doesn’t mean I stop bothering them.”
Destiney decided it was best to just continue to ignore him. He had been haunting her with his presence for far too long. Unless he was planning to make a move he was only here to taunt and torment. She didn’t have time for him. Nor the patience.
She looked back and he was gone. Chee’s house stood before her now. One last letter. To her best friend and sister. She owed Chee this goodbye.
I’m sorry. I truly am. I should not be saying this kind of goodbye. Certainly not this way. I have to put a stop to it all. Grandfather has gone too far this time. I cannot risk anyone else in this matter. So I’m going alone to Ishgard to end this. Please don’t try anything. This is between him and I. I just hope someday you will forgive me for this. You have been like a sister to me. My best friend. I’ll miss you. Goodbye…
Arriving in Camp Dragonhead. Going straight to Ishgard would have been wiser. Yet she wanted to walk there. Time. To remember. To thank the gods for all that she had been given. Cerulean eyes looking off towards the distant spires of Ishgard. Towards whatever fate lay in wait for her there.
“It’s time for this to end. I’m coming Vladislav Aurifore. It’s time you and I ended this. For good…”
Spirit of the Warlock 