(Okay. Got done with the journal post for Destiney. Now to get a bit of writing done for Lance. Cause he has had a wonderful few days. ^^ Yay~!)
Lance felt like he was walking on air as he went to his next day of duty in Skyfire Locks. He may not have been able to find his cousin but his day with Miu had been nothing short of perfect.
Finding his cousin still worried his mind though. The few days he had shadowed her before his date had left him troubled. She had seemed so… Disturbed. There just had not been the usual mood about her. She had seemed so detached an almost… Broken. This was not the cousin he had gotten used to spying on. Something was clearly wrong.
He tried to keep his thoughts on Miu as he worked. He had kissed the girl for crying out loud. Even more that she had kissed him back! But slowly his thoughts became troubled with other problems. If his family found out about his affections for the small miqo’te woman… They would surely cast him out. Even if he was no longer heir to the family name he had still been expected to marry well an carry on the family name. This would not be the kind of woman they expected him to end up with.
A frown creased his brow as he looked out over the winter landscape of Coerthas. How was he to keep protecting both ladies? He had to find a way to keep all the truths hidden behind lies to his family.
He had to find his cousin as soon as he could. He was worried for her. He had tried last night to find her with no success. His cousin apparently did not want to be found. Not that he had had much luck finding Raiden either. He still wanted to seek Raiden for training or at least to challenge the man in hopes of strengthening himself. Things around the Order’s house had been so… Subdued feeling. Something had happened. Something bad.
Now he just had to wait for his duty to end for the day. He would try again. Destiney was out there somewhere. Hopefully whatever was going on would pass if he could not. Miu had told him to speak with Destiney. He was done hiding in the shadows.
A heavy sigh as he looked away from the snow. He was worried for his future and the future of his cousin. His future with Miu. But he could not be afraid. He had to keep fighting. No more hiding in shadows. It was time to be open and honest. It was time to confront the monster head on.
A small smile as he thought again on that day with Miu by the waterfall. Together with her. She was his strength right now. He would get through anything and everything as long as he had her. She was his summer sun in the never ending winter of his life.
Just like a rose. Together they had something beautiful but he was the thorns protecting the beauty an joy that was Miu, the rose.
(Okay let’s see if I can get a journal post done now that I got through the asks. 😀 Well all the ones that were currently there. I’ll answer anymore if they show up of course! ^^ I enjoy answering them. It’s quite fun. 😀 This entry though is going to be a bit more emotional an less of a telling of the events of the week since last entry. As I said in an ask earlier, Dest is a bit emotionally unstable right now. Thanks @onidephor, Leera helped break Dest. I hope that smug duskwight bastard is happy an enjoying every minute of it. :P)
Am I really so fragile? Am I truly like broken glass? I overheard Dusk’s words as I lingered near the stairs after changing my clothes to head to the Shroud in hopes of finding Basteaux. I wanted to run upstairs an claim I was not glass! But… Maybe I am…
I must be so broken an be the only one who can not see it. How could I feel nothing about ten dead children! Ten! I felt numb and empty. Yet… I was so near to being sick watching the rest of the Order kill the bandits responsible. I spent the better part of two days wandering about wondering why I felt so little. Was I really so broken I could feel so little about dead children? That I could find no rage. That I could find no killing calm towards those responsible. Had I shattered myself so badly that day outside Occidens that I could no longer find that rage an anger for such a tragedy?
I thought I was going to be okay. I thought I could be strong an help those who needed it. I thought I could repay the kindness I have received ever since joining the Order. I told Rhisi I was fine. That I could find no rage like everyone else could. She hoped I would never find it again. I thought I was fine. But time only made me doubt myself.
I found Leera outside the house a few days ago. I was cautious at first as I usually am. I know what the others think of him. I know I can never fully trust him. But… He seemed like he was actually sorry about the whole incident. I found myself drawn towards him like a moth to a flame.
When Felix showed… I said words I should never had said. I felt as if a slap to my face would have been less painful or even a sword to the gut… He thought… I was stupid for wanting to be around Leera. Even though he was the one who first left me alone with him! Even though he never once thought to ask if I was okay after finding out the truth about Leera in person! He claims Leera is a monster an only wants to kill certain members of the Order… Yet… I see more to the man then that. I can see some shred of good in him. I want to believe that maybe there is a chance he can be something more.
Dusk had happened by during our exchange of words. She called my behavior childish… Maybe… I think I had a right to my feelings. I felt so raw and hurt. I felt so… Alone. I wanted to curl into a ball an wish the world away. I threw words at her. I told her how I felt. Blamed things on those that made me feel as if… as if… I was not a person. I blamed Oni and his treating Daisy and I as snacks. I blamed Aimee an her lack of making sure I knew my job as a healer for the Order. I blamed Felix for thinking less of me. I blamed everyone but my weak self at the time…
As she left I noticed Leera had left a linkpearl near me when he had left. I grabbed it an held it tight. I felt… Defiant. Hurt and defiant. I wanted to prove them wrong. Prove to them that maybe there was a shred of humanity inside the man they thought of as a monster. That even as fragile as I can be in their eyes… I can still be strong in different ways. Continue to reforge the broken parts of myself as I had been. I had been doing so well…
It was after that exchange that I had gone out with my bow. I was still feeling so raw an hurt. I figured a few drinks with Basteaux an forgetting the world was in order. Instead all I found was more pain. This time physical. I was forced to flee from some bandits as I was lacking care as I traveled through the woods. Somewhere along the line I had fallen. Tried to stop my fall with my bow hand. I know the wrist is sprained. And… I do not care. I welcomed the pain. Once I was safe I took the time to wrap my wrist and hand. Not well since I was doing it with only one hand.
I’m still so… Mixed. So hurt an sad. I don’t want to bother Rhisi. I don’t want to bother anyone. I just… I’m not sure what I want. I have avoided the hall since that night. I’ve avoided all contact with the rest of the Order. I’m… not sure… What I am going to do come tomorrow… I should be there for the mission… But… I just do not know… Twelve help me… Maybe I should use that linkpearl Leera left me… Is this a mistake? Should I have not picked it up at all? Maybe I should just let myself believe what they say about him instead… Is it really wrong of me to want to think that maybe Leera might change for the better with the right influences? I won’t know without trying… It could mean my death… It could mean more pain… I should be afraid… But I’m not…
Yay pictures. ❤ I actually remembered to take a few. I’m finding myself really liking this hairstyle for Destiney. Especially when on MCH. It just makes her look a bit more kickass. Maybe it’s just me. 😀 Not that she’ll be a MCH IC. Not unless I decide someone is going to teach her how to use a gun instead of a bow. 😛
An yay pictures of my Lancefer an his lady friend, Miu. ( @michisilver) An one with Cio. ^^ Lance is making friends. ❤ Aww my little Lance is growing up.
(Another sort of ‘day after’ post for Lance. Though its more like three days later technically. ❤ But I really wanted to post Lance’s thoughts an opinions on the last few days. I really should get him involved with more House Haillenarte members or something.)
Lance swung his sword hard, connecting to his sparring partner’s shield with a loud clang. Next thing his partner knew, was starring up at the snowy sky above as Lance swept the man’s feet.
“Get up. You can’t tell me you’re done already.” Lance scoffed as he rolled his shoulders about to try an keep the muscles loose.
“Aurifore! Go for a run!” His superior ordered. “Burn off that energy before you come back.”
“Yes sir.” Lance answered back with a salute before sheathing his sword at his side. He would be the first to admit he was restless. Very restless. And edgy. But he had reasons. Reasons he was not willing to explain to his fellow knights.
The last few days had been a whirlwind. Both good and bad. A smile drifted across his lips as he thought of Miu. How long had it been since he had last looked at a woman like he did her? She was sweet an smart. He enjoyed being in her presence. It made him feel warm. Made him feel less alone. Less concerned that his every waking moment was for nothing but duty or protecting his family. Not that he was not concerned about his duty or family. That was far from the truth. He just now had more in his life. A blue haired Miqo’te who made him want to be better. Made him want to try harder. A promise from her to show him more of Eorzea.
If anything he now had more desire to find Tempete again. No not Tempete. The man had left that name behind. He was still confused on the relationship of Oni and Raiden. But he still wished to let Raiden train him. He wanted to be stronger. Needed to be. Especially if last night was any indication of what lay ahead. Regardless if the man was once a Dragoon for Durendaire. He needed Raiden. The other knights he served with… They just weren’t enough. They weren’t serious enough. They weren’t skilled enough. They lacked Raiden’s poweress.
“Lord Chlodebaimt…” Lance whispered the name once before starting off jogging towards Camp Dragonhead. He would jog there before heading back south towards the Observatorium.
Miu and her friend Cio had offered to help him sort through that dreaded place people were calling the ‘Palace of the Dead’ in the South Shroud. But he still felt bad allowing the ladies to accompany him. But… He knew he could not do it alone. Yesterday had been proof enough. The traps… The numerous enemies that never seemed to end. The number of exploding traps he had managed to trip… Plus being transformed into a frog a few times… If it had not been for Miu and Cio he probably would have joined the rumored spirits that wandered that place.
But… He had to know. Had to find out if Chlodebaimt’s spirit truly wandered those haunted halls. If… If he did indeed… Then Lance knew he had to find a way to free the man’s spirit. Help him find peace. He owed Chlodebaimt that much. If it had not been for that man’s sacrifice at Steel Vigil… Lance knew he might not still be alive today. Might not have survived the fall of the Vigil as the enemy razed the place with fire and claws. The sound of wings still bothered him to this day. Still put him on edge. But it would not stop him from repaying the debt the son of House Haillenarte made in giving his life so others might live.
He also had to worry about the safety of Miu and Cio. He would not allow harm to come to them for aiding him in this venture to discover if rumors were true or not. He needed to be stronger to protect Miu. She was… An important light in his life right now. He would do his best or die trying to keep her safe. He had promised her. His sword and shield were hers.
“On my… honor… as a knight… of House… Haillenarte…” The words between each puff of breath as he jogged the path. His promise an vow. The words that drove him forward.
(Well this is overdue. At least to me it is. I’ve just been very bleh the last few days for a few reasons. I really need to do this for Destiney an then do a little bit for Lance. As well as I wanted to work on a more cleaner an detailed profile then what I have right now. Meh. I want to at least get the writing done. Profile crap can wait. The stuff I have up for now works plenty fine for the time being. I’m just being picky. XD As long as I can stop being distracted by Spotify. Been trying to switch over to it instead of Pandora. Mostly cause Pandora an my phone do not seem to like each other. I keep having to wake the screen or it ends up in endless buffering between songs. Anyways enough rambling. Journal time~!)
The mission at the end of the week took us down in the Sunken Temple of Qarn. We hoped to find whatever it was that the enemy was after. As well as come up with a way to undo whatever meddling he had done. The aether around the temple felt… Disturbed. Obviously our enemy had a hand in whatever was wrong.
I was assigned to a team with Kagato, Chloe, and Dusk. Together we took one path. The other two teams split off from us to check other areas. Kagato was treasure happy. Why am I not surprised when he is a pirate. The whole mentality of ‘it it can be taken, take it’.
Things went fairly smoothly for us for the most part. Until the room with the large stone golem. The fight got a bit rough. At one point even though it seemed like Kagato had it’s attention, it turned around to smack me. I was totally off guard, focusing on keeping everyone standing an save from major injuries. Thankfully the damage I took was not life threatening. The arm it had hit though was not in the best of shape. I’m pretty sure something was fractured for the amount of pain I was in. I allowed Daisy to tend to my arm as the battle ended. However I stopped her from doing more then healing the fracture. We didn’t have time nor did I want to waste the effort on healing minor injuries.
We pressed in deeper into the temple. I managed to get knocked around again by a Croc. Thankfully it only bruised my back but nothing worse. In the end we arrived at a giant room with the other two teams. There was our masked foe. He tried to steal a jewel from the large statue in the room. However this seemed to wake the damn thing. He fled an left us to deal with it. We defeated the living statue but the gem the enemy was after crumbled to dust along with the rest of the statue. So whatever he wanted to us it for we would not find out. The gem was gone. As was our masked foe.
We returned to the house to deal with injuries. I went off to the medical ward to see what I could do while Aimee was tending to Oni’s injuries. Both Nate and Tara came in to be treated. Rhisi left me to tend to Nate’s broken ribs while she went to see what she could do for Tara’s concussion. I sent Daisy over to help Rhisi while I wrapped Nate’s ribs since he said aetherical healing wouldn’t work on him. An it was better then Daisy fussing over my arm.
I had taken my coat off so that the sleeves wouldn’t be in the way. I could already see how badly my arm was going to look the next day. I wanted to ask Nate why I couldn’t use magic to heal him but I decided he would tell me in time. He did not seem ready to talk about it.
Rhisi came over to check on me as Nate excused himself for the night. Tara had already left an Daisy was back at my side. Daisy was waving her arms in annoyance at the fact I wouldn’t let her finish what she had started earlier. I was too tired to care. Rhisi seemed worried but I promised her it was just bruises. Which was not a lie. I just didn’t mention how tired and sore I felt.
I was late to the All Saints’s Wake party at the house. I had gotten caught up in work as well as I had to modify my outfit. An let Daisy at least heal the bruises on my back. My outfit was a bit too revealing to be walking about sporting so many bruises. I had added sleeves to the outfit to hide the way my left arm looked. Of course Daisy fussed again. I felt a little bad at just blowing it off but I was already late.
The party was quite fun. I teased J’siris a bit. Flirted a bit with Raiden before warning him to stay out of my room. Talked some with a friend of J’siris and Kagato. I figured if I was going to go dressed as a succubus, why not be a little bit wicked. It was for one night anyways. So I acted the part an tried not to be as embarrassed as I would have been normally to be in such an outfit.
I ran into Leera at the end of week gathering at Bronze Lake. We talked for a few before I reminded him I had invited him before. Back before I had learned the truth about him. I don’t hate him. I sort of miss the easy interactions I had with him before that night in the South Shroud. Like that night at the house with Capucine. I wanted to talk to him more then too. Something about Leera… I’m not sure what it is… So I tried to talk to Felix an ask him to just try an ignore Leera’s presence… Yeah that went wonderfully. Felix left in a huff.
Nate was talking to Rhisi when I turned around. I heard her mentioning to Nate he should check with his healer about being in the water. I think he was a bit surprised to find me standing to his right when I spoke up with my opinion. So I joined Nate in the water. We could both use a good soak in the hot springs. When we both started to get tired we returned to the house so that I could change his bandages for dry ones.
I went out to the South Shroud for work the next day. I ended up missing dinner. But it was well worth it. I think I made a new friend.
I was over towards the entrance of the Keep. I had offered my services to a friend of my father’s in the Gods’ Quiver. I came across a man. A Duskwight. At first I thought he might be a bandit. He mistook me for a Gods’ Quiver because I was wearing my half mask I tend to use when I patrol in the Shroud.
It was when he drew closer that I thought I was seeing a ghost. I felt my chest tighten. My head felt light. I was afraid I might pass out. Leon… I thought I was seeing him. I know he’s dead but… I should know better. Should know it couldn’t be him.
I think I worried Basteaux a little with my reaction at first sight of him up close. So I told him of Leon. An how they looked similar from first glance. But really looking at Basteaux I realized they are not the same. The skin tone was wrong as was the scars on the face. He was missing that golden tattoo on his face. They both have blonde hair and green eyes though the shades are not the same either. No wonder I mistook him for Leon. They even wore their hair in about the same way.
I talked for a bit with Basteaux until I had to leave. I asked him if I could meet him again. Maybe over drinks at Busacroon’s. He agreed. I’m interested in talking to him. He patrols the South Shroud dealing with bandits on his own because he feels the Wailers and Quiver don’t do a good enough job. I hope I can meet him again.
Two days later I was sitting outside the house reading. Daisy was hovering over my shoulder. Maybe reading. I’m not sure if she knows how. Nate stopped by the house. It was once he was talking that I realized that Oni was sitting on the wall nearby. Being a creeper. I have no idea how long he had been sitting there. Watching. Waiting.
The three of us talked for a bit. Oni was mentioning something about smelling a certain type of aether. Daisy was busy amusing herself. She had first gone over to Nate an waved to him, examining him before I reminded her we couldn’t heal his ribs. So Daisy then began wandering over towards Oni. I was talking to Nate so I wasn’t fully paying attention to Daisy. Oni had held his hand out to her and she sat down on it. She thought she was safe. Should have been safe… If Oni wasn’t hungry…
Before I knew it Oni was trying to eat Daisy… I smacked him over the head with the book I had been reading when he didn’t spit her out when I demanded him to. I might have smacked him a bit harder then intended but I was panicking about Daisy. He did spit her out. Strings of blue saliva dripping from her as she sat upon the ground. Daisy was totally not happy. I scolded Oni, reminding him that I had no idea the effects if he ate Daisy. I had no idea if I would be able to resummon her again or if the bond would be broken. So instead I concentrated an made a ball of aether for him to snack on. I’m sure it wasn’t enough but it would have to do. Of course then there was talk of him licking Nate.
Some days I worry about Oni. Other days he seems so normal.
Well I need to get some work done before tonight’s mission.
(Here we go again~! Only cause I’m not sure I’ll have time to do this if I wait. At least not until Monday. An I really wanted to do one. So write away my Desty. Also I changed the look of my tumblr as well as added a sort of profile page for Destiney and Lancefer. 😀 Yay me. Progress. I am a good mun. An @onidephor I hope Raiden’s happy. 😛 Freaking Dest out like that.)
I was running late for the gathering at Forgotten Springs. I took far too long fussing with that silk. I really should not make bets while drinking. Felix finally decided this week would be the time for me to wear it. So thankfully by the time I arrived most people were busy talking to other people already. I was not sure how the silk an water would mix so I took a seat on the dock.
Konner came over to talk to me for a little while. It was mostly just small talk. Asking me how I was an such. A few things of what I enjoyed. I think mostly making sure I was doing alright. I appreciate the concern. Eventually Konner wandered off to check on other people at the gathering or something. I can not recall.
Eventually Nate finished his conversation with Neiven and came up to sit beside me. He commented on how I looked. I could not help but fuss with the silk an blush like some stupid maiden. Ugh. How is it I can think an behave two different ways? I mean I know I have the figure for the outfit but I still felt like… Like this outfit was something Leon would have enjoyed making me wear. I wanted to hide my burning face.
Raiden did not help matters any. Not. One. Bit. PEST! Oni was busy with Aimee and Felix but that did not stop Raiden in his aether form from pestering me. I do not think Nate could see him. An Raiden was being far too touchy feely. He kept trying to get a view under that silk. When I tried to thwart him, he just perched on Nate’s shoulder an looked down at my chest… Pervert…
Dinner came and went. It was a hotpot dinner? I think that is what Rhisi called it. It was a quiet night though. Raiden made no moves despite me wearing that outfit again. Thank the Twelve. I spent most of the dinner making small talk with Nate. We did not have any guests for a change.
Our mid-week mission… Wow…
We went out to the Churning Mists to collect stuff from Wind Sprites in the area. Rhisi hoped we could find a way to counter whatever was done to the golems using them. Since in the elemental wheel Earth is weak to Wind. So out we went.
Of course things did not go entirely smooth as usual. Dragons and all. An not the friendly kind. Remnants of Nidhogg’s Brood probably. I can not say for sure since I was not going to try asking an angry dragon why it was attacking us. Though we did manage to collect enough to work with plus one extra. Just in case. Hopefully it will be enough to reverse the tampering that was done.
We encountered a strange treasure coffer in the middle of the road as we finished. Of course it was trapped. Why not. We subdued the monsters lured by the trap only for a portal to appear. A few of the group were unsure about seeing where it lead. Rhisi has said she had heard mention of these portals before. Some place called the Aquapolis. So we ventured inside. It was a fascinating area I wish I could have explored more.
We found a treasure coffer in the middle of a spacious room. Of course it was trapped. A coffer in the middle of a room untouched. Definitely trapped. Two gates opened an we dealt with the monsters the trap had unleashed upon us. It left us with two choices. Left or Right. Two doors. No idea if either was trapped or not. We tried going left but it was the trapped door of course. So much for that. The trap threw us back out into the Churning Mists. Rhisi called an end to our adventures for one night, assigning Quarcy to help me figure out a way to reverse the tampering.
We returned to the house. I went to my room to change back into the silks of the thavnarian outfit. Well at to drop off the stuff we gathered tonight as well. I went back out to see if I could find Quarcy. He had gotten sick while we were in the Churning Mists. I could tell the signs. I knew them all too well. Something was bothering him. Something as bad as my own memories of Castrum Occidens. I wanted to make sure he was okay.
I found Quarcy hiding in a corner. I asked him if he was okay an he deflected the question trying to assure me he was okay. I sort of expected that answer. I put a hand against his head, his skin was so cold. I tried again to ask him about his current state only to give up an attempt to let it go at that. So I suggested we could begin our work on those cores. I figured maybe instead I could at least take his mind off things.
Well maybe. I decided to kindly mention once we were in the privacy of my room that I knew the way he felt. I knew how badly a traumatic moment could shake a person when returning to the place or something similar. Our conversation got to be a bit jumbled between the discussion of the cores and what was bothering him. He slowly began to open up. Asking me if things ever got better. I told him I was still dealing with my own problems but time an the people I care about having given me the strength to keep pushing. To find a path in the right direction. Healing is no overnight process. An for everyone it is different.
He asked me to go with him. He wanted to show me something. Since we were making no process on the cores I agreed. He was too distracted to work an I wanted to know. I wanted to be there for him. Even if listening an sympathizing with him was the only thing I could do. Sometimes it helps just to know there is someone who cares.
He could have at least warned me we were going somewhere extremely cold so I could have put on my gear instead of that soft silk. I was freezing when he teleported us to Falcon’s Reach. Thankfully I had my grabbed my bag so I could throw on my coat, boots, and gloves. At least now I wouldn’t completely freeze as he showed me what he wanted to show me.
The Orphanage and the graves of those he had lost in Coerthas. Mabs’ grave at the Burning Wall. He opened up to me on the reasons Churning Mist brings back such bad memories and made him ill. An gave me more reason to dislike House Dzemael other then some of my family in Ishgard serving them. I was glad he opened up to me and shared some of his pain. I feel like I am beginning to understand Quarcy a bit better. An I tried to make him think of himself as more important then he believes. He is such a smart guy an a good person. No matter what he has suffered. He should not feel like he is worthless or has no real place.
We returned to the house after. However it was late an I needed rest. The cores could wait. Helping Quarcy was more important. I was glad to see him doing better.
I seem to be doing a good bit of that lately. First with Nate and then with Quarcy. I guess my own stupidity choices helped with something. I’m learning how to help others who have also had something pretty bad happen. In a way I guess it is a good thing. I am a healer after all. Who is to say I can’t help with the mental besides just the physical.
I was too tired to change my clothes. So I fell asleep in the silk thavnarian clothes. The next morning… By the Twelve… Raiden!
I thought something felt off. I was drowsy from being up so late. But something woke me from slumber. I blinked with eyes not quite adjusted to the morning light. I looked down at my legs where something felt off. I screamed an scrambled to get away. Raiden! Freaking me out that early in the morning. Seeing a big fat tentacle of aether just draped over my legs… Just sprawled there… Like it was no big deal… I hope no one else heard my screams. Both my screams of panic before I realized what was going on an the screams at Raiden as I kicked him out of my room. The nerve of him! Twelve save me… He better pray to Halone to protect him if he tries anything like that again. I am pretty sure my face was as red as it could possibly be. Just what in the world had he done while I was sleeping?! Pervert!
((*happy squeal* So I finally made some much needed decisions for Lance. @onidephor helped me with the inspiration as she told me details about Raiden’s backstory. An well those choices lead to a scuffle between our Ishgardian boys last night. 😀 Took us most of the evening since the first attempt was thwarted by a couple of FC members. XD An well since Lance is not exactly the journal writing type… I’m do a sort of post of his day after the scuffle. He might not be up to Heavensward yet but it was not exactly needed last night anyways. 😀 Thanks for the practice in writing for a fight, Oni. ^_^ I had a ton of fun last night.))
Waking up the next day was hell. Lance did not want to leave that borrowed bed in the guest room at the Order’s house. Everything hurt. Mostly just aches. The worst of the injuries had been handled with the elixir Raiden had given him from the medical ward. Though he had somewhat lied to Raiden that nothing was broken. He knew the bone in his lower left arm had fractured from that blow he had foolishly tried to block with his shield gone. As well as at least one rib had broken. Every breath had been like fire after it had happened. But pride made him brush it off as minor.
He was still unsure why he even agreed to come back here with Raiden. He looked around the room to find where he had dropped his armor the night before falling into bed exhausted. The one gauntlet was heavily damaged from his foolish maneuver. The chainmail would need fixed on the right arm. An of course there was a tear on the left leg of his pants. His favorite damned pants… Plus he would have to replace his sword and hope to either find his forgotten shield or replace it as well. Maybe he was really touched in the head after that fight. The only thing undamaged was his greaves. It was at least one small mercy.
Of course there was also the heavy bruises on his torso and left arm. There was no way he could have returned last night. He poked softly at the bruises on my side with a grimace. The elixir had definitely helped but he still looked like someone had beaten the hell out of him. This would definitely had raised numerous questions had he gone home. None of which he could honestly answer. Not if he wished to keep his cousin from harm.
He had fought the purple-eyed aevis an lived. Granted he had totally lost completely. He had never even stood a chance. He realized it the moment Raiden had decided to show him his true strength. Lance laughed wryly. He had been foolish to think he could kill Raiden. An yet… Even though Raiden knew Lance was trying to kill him… He had still shown mercy when Lance was beaten. To think he had survived the terrible night of Steel Vigil’s fall only to encounter a ghost of the past an face him down in a fight. Just to lose. Lance leaned back against the wall with a sigh.
It was going to be a long day… He pushed off that wall finally an left the Order of the Sword and Rose behind. His mind still drifting between Raiden and his cousin. To think she spent time around such a man. He just hoped Raiden’s dark past would not drag her down. He would continue to do his best to keep the hounds from finding the truth. She was family an he would not let her suffer for an old man who was too foolish to see beyond outdated thinking. Ha. As if he was one to talk as he shook his head. He had thought what he was doing was right. Maybe he had needed sense beat into him. Challenging Raiden had gone from wanting to kill the man to a competition between A Bell and A Rose.
He was conflicted. However we still went about securing repairs to his armor and replacing what needed replaced. His new sword was not the same as the old but it would work. Better then trying to wield or repair the one he had shattered last night in his fight. Thankfully no one would see the bruises once he was dressed in armor once more. The chainmail covered all them. Now he could at least head to Skyfire Locks to report for duty later in the day. No one would know any better that he, a Hallienarte Knight, had been bested by a former Durendaire Dragoon. Not that he could even begin to explain things to anyone. Better left between him and Raiden. He was even still confused on how Raiden was even still alive.
He paused an took a deep breath of that frigid Coerthas air as he arrived at Camp Dragonhead. One glance towards the office where Haurchefant had once been. He had never known the man personally. He wished he could have. That was two honorable knights now that had died, sacrificing themselves for the greater good. War was never pretty. He was glad Ishgard was slowly moving on past the war. His feet crunched through the snow as he walked south towards his post. He would have all evening to dwell on thoughts.
A grin crossed his lips. Maybe he should keep touch with Raiden. Foolish as the idea was. Keep tabs on the man an his cousin at the same time. As well as maybe get some much needed work on his sword skill. He had felt truly alive in that fight the night before. No one had given him quite the challenge Raiden had. Not since he had been a fresh faced novice at Steel Vigil. As much as part of him hated the idea of even thinking that way of someone who had once been tried as a heretic… Maybe it was a way to help make a difference for Hallienarte. To be as noble an tough as Lord Chlodebaimt. Ishgard was changing. Why couldn’t he? A laugh escaped him as he shook his head at the thought. One step at a time.
The beach night was at Costa this week. It was not a bad night. Nor was it overly memorable. Well not as much compared to some of the others things that happened this past week.
I spent the night talking with Nate and Chloe mainly. Though Oni left a note with me before he left. Saying we needed to speak so I could give my report on the work Tara an I were supposed to have done. I put the note away and continued to converse with people present. I would worry about it later. The reports had waited this long anyways.
It was at dinner the next night that Oni decided it was a good time to pull me aside for those reports. I left Nate to speak with Rhisi about joining us for some work. We headed off to my room where I left my papers an the armband I needed to give to Oni.
I gave him my report. An gods be damned if I did not feel like I had somehow kicked a small cute creature after Oni had left. He was… So quiet. So unlike himself. Well unlike what I had grown used to knowing. I felt like I had surely done something bad. I returned to join those that remained at the table. Oni’s silence was unnerving at the very least. I wanted to scream an demand to know what I had done. All I had done was give my report as he had asked.
I had promised Nate a reading after dinner. Most of the others had wandered off for the night. An I needed a distraction from the fact that Oni was behaving like that. So we headed downstairs so I could use the table down there for the reading. The table that was setup for Triad was a good place to work with the cards. It all started out well as I used the Trinity spread. It was not until the third an final card that I became worried. It was a warning of sorts. At least from the way I was interpreting the meanings. I am still learning after all. It called for vigilance. That some quest ahead would be dangerous for him. I hoped the warning was not needed. But I asked Nate to promise me he would be careful an ask for my help if he needed it.
I was busy most of the next day with work of my own. Well most of the day. I might have set outside of the yard hiding behind the fence later that evening. Aimee and Oni were in the yard. As was Tara who had just gotten back home from helping her family with the harvest. I was sort of snooping, still curious what was going on with Oni an not wanting to outright confront him. Eventually Nate arrived an nearly gave away my position. Thankfully though Oni left with Aimee and Quarcy to head to Ishgard. They were off to investigate some leads.
I joined Chee for a short while before the mid-week mission. We did a little catching up on the things that had been happening in our lives. We enjoyed some drinks for a Lady’s Night at the Last Bell. Sadly too soon I had to say goodnight to Chee. Rhisi had given us the call to begin heading to the house for the mission.
Our next mission was back out in Southern Thanalan again. Nate joined us as a guest. Apparently there were more shepherds then the one we helped. We were looking for something to help remove petrification. Hopefully it would be something more effective then Dusk an my attempt before. That was a bit too much for two people to have to do repeatedly. We found something worth trying an took it back to the two groups, one of shepherds an one of sheep. I still do not understand why these silly shepherds even decided it was a good idea to try an do what they do in Southern Thanalan of all places.
My mind was on anything but the mission of course. Between Oni’s behavior and the reading I did for Nate. I felt like I was ready to jump at every shadow. I was worried something could happen. Worried out reaper friend would choose to attack again. I excused myself early from the half of the team I was working with. My mind was just not focused. I returned to the house.
Raiden was there. As well as Rhisi, Konner, and a guest. I hated asked Raiden for a moment of his time with a guest present but I really needed to at least get something off my mind. I asked him an we went to my room to speak privately. Of course he had to bring a cake with him which he decided to snack on.
I finally asked Raiden to tell me what I did to Oni. I -needed- to know. It was driving me mad. Apparently Oni thought I no longer wished to be his friend based on my behavior towards him. I was… Mad. Confused. Frustrated. Never once did I want to hate Oni. Oni is… different and frustrating. But I could never really hate him. Even if he says things he did not clearly mean. I assumed his words meant one thing when they meant something else. To be honest his words were not exactly clear either. Raiden does not think we need to apologize to each other though. I guess I need to work on my people skills…
Though I did steal a slice of that cake from Raiden’s hand towards the end of our conversation. I could no longer resist the temptation he was holding. Of course then I made a comment that he probably enjoyed me making Oni into a mummy. Which lead to him making a comment of … No I am not writing those words. I thought for sure I might melt alone hearing that comment. I bid him goodnight an pushed him towards the door before he could add more comments of that type.
I was late coming home the next night. I had a bit of work to do. I arrived to quite the mess. Chocolate spatters, shirtless men, and a partially damaged cake dragon. Apparently it was Raiden’s nameday. An I did not know so I did not have a gift for him.
Somehow the conversation lead to my lost bet to Felix. Great. Now Raiden knows. Let the endless harassment begin. Eventually a guest arrived. She commented on Raiden and I. It is not a courtship ritual! Raiden and I are not like that… I don’t think we are… I think he just enjoys leaving me flustered and blushing. Then Raiden just had to lean in an add something to me privately. Twelve save me… He made the comment from the night before worse… I wished I could just disappear.
I used the chance of Raiden being distracted by Anais to disappear up the stairs. I needed a drink. Badly. Nate was up there at the bar an I had almost totally missed the fact he was there because of the addled state I was in. We spoke for a bit. He finally opened up to me a bit. I was happy to listen, to understand him better. We’ve both lost people. We both don’t want to lose anyone else. I think together we can make sure not to let that happen. Not alone. That is one of the things I always hear repeated among those of this company. Not Alone. None of us here are ever truly alone. Not as long as we have each other.
Not alone. It’s been a long time since I could ever truly appreciate those words. Being here.. Among those of the Order… It’s been a much needed balm. My friends of ‘The Outsiders’ gave me purpose an the needed push to keep moving forward. The Order has given me what I’ve long needed to begin to truly heal. I wanted to hold Nate’s hand an never let go. He has become such a precious friend to me. Just as the rest of the Order. I won’t let anything happen. Not to any of them. No matter how frustrating and confusing they can be at times. They are my family.
Anyways! Our mission last evening took us back out to Southern Thanalan again. More dealings with the shepherds and looking for answers on what was going on. Apparently the golems were not behaving properly over towards Qarn. Half the team went to check with the nearby beast tribe. I was with the other half dealing with the golems. We gathered up golem cores to try an figure out what was going on with them when Dusk’s attempt to reason with them went unheeded. I brought samples with us back to the house. The aether of the area was too turbulent to be able to figure anything out from there. But it sounds like we will soon be making a trip down into Qarn.
(Journal time again! ^^ A little delayed. Been trying to recover from all the work. So many hours. @_@ Ugh. I did not get to do more then 1 learning party so far for Sophia Ex. But we were up to the healer check. So we made pretty good progress. I did get most of my other content done. Though I still have half my alex stuff to do. XD Which I will do asap once I get done with this entry. Oh! AND! I finished my hyperconductive stage of my Relic! 😀 Yay Word of the Magnate! Destiney finally hit lvl50 on PLD. My first 50+ tank class. ^^ Also making fair progress on Lance. He’s lvl 28 atm an ready to head into the next dungeon.)
Dinner was a rather quiet affair this week. Well other then Nathaniel stopped by. I was glad to have him to speak with. I checked on his well being out of concern since I did remember he had suffered a failed hunt the week before. He insisted he was fine. I hope he is. I… I don’t know what I would do if something happened. I don’t want to lose his friendship so soon.
Oni arrived while I was talking to Nate. I could feel his stare. I asked him if there was something wrong. Making sure to address him properly with a ‘Sir’ as well. He said it was nothing before whispering something over his shoulder to Raiden. I wanted to ask what he was whispering about but I did not. I let things go at that. I think Nate noticed the tension I held towards Oni. It is hard. Trying not to relax back into the way things were around Oni. I’m not ready to forgive him this easily. Though at the same time I’m not -as- angry as I was. More so… Disappointed.
Speaking of Oni… I still have not been able to catch Leera to check on his well being either. I’m worried but I am not about to try going over to the Castrum just to check on someone like Leera. It’s been a week though…
The mid-week mission was rather tame. We built fencing for that Shepherd from the week before. No sign of our ‘friend’. I helped C’lest with bringing wood over for the others to build with. I guess it is a good thing I still regularly practice with my bow. Keeps me better fit then just casting spells would ever do. Definitely helped with carrying wood over that distance. Nothing of real importance occurred though. No attacks. Just a simple night.
Though… Our mission at the end of the week was far worse. The cards predicted a rough night for us. Well they predicted us encountering our familiar foe again. An they were right. The night was filled with attacks by our foe.
Things seemed to be starting off simple enough. We had to take care of the Peiste problem near the area where the Shepherd was. That was when we encountered a group of people who had been petrified. I did my best to try an halt the progress though I was unable to reverse it on my own. Dusk preformed some kind of strange magic using blood before having me try again. Thankfully whatever Dusk did helped. The people should have come around a few hours later. However we did not have a chance to linger. We cleared the area of Peistes before heading north.
A blast above us rained rocks down at us. I threw up a shield hoping to hold off the worst of the rubble. Thankfully the biggest of the rocks landed in front of us not on top of us. Blocking our path of course… We decided it would take too long to move or find another way. We would climb the rocks. Again I was thankful. I used to climb trees in the Shroud as a kid. This was not much more difficult. I just had to be relatively careful. I was also glad I had ditched the skirt in favor of something a bit more sensible for such tasks.
When we got over to the other side we encountered a new problem. Both Aras and Neiven managed to find landmines in the ground. Since Aras was more heavily geared then Neiven, I rushed to Neiven’s side first. Her legs were still intact but pretty hurt. I healed the worst of it an helped her to her feet. C’lest had chosen to carry Aras after she had done some fancy maneuvers with her fists an chakra to explode the rest of the landmines. We could not tarry here. It was not safe.
Chloe managed to find our reaper friend. We hurried to join her nearby. It looked like a small ravine separated us from the enemy. An somehow Dusk had managed to cross it without us noticing as we were being fired upon. I had thrown up a shield again though I did not have to hold it long before the enemy vanished as usual. Neiven helped to get C’lest to the other side so we could get Dusk back safely. I thought I heard a noise that reminded me of Oni’s cores. I could be mistaken though as I was hurrying over to check on Aras. She had finally regained conscience. She insisted she was fine. An someone learned the ground was not a ravine but a projection. There was never a gap between us and our enemy.
I was ordered back to the house with Aras and Dusk. The others would soon follow. I ordered both Dusk and Aras into the house so I could better check over them. Dusk passed out on the floor inside the house. I got Chloe and Aras to help me move her into her room where she could rest. I did not want to risk anything by healing her right then. Not when she had insisted I could not heal her hand because of the spell she had used on those people.
Once Dusk was safely in her room we headed back out to the main floor. I demanded Aras hold still an let me check her over. I thought I had glimpsed blood on her head when she had looked down at the leg she had stepped on the landmine with. Everything else might be fine but she had most definitely hit her head when the explosion had knocked her back. So I took care to heal it before then moving over to where C’lest was fussing over Neiven.
Neiven’s legs still needed further tending now that we were safely at the house again. I was feeling the strain of so much aether usage but I needed to do this. I finished what I had started out in the field. Quarcy had just arrived as I finished. I stood up an staggered a moment because I felt light-headed. Too much. I had once more pushed too hard. Though not nearly as hard as the week before. I really do need to work on strengthening myself.
It was just Quarcy an I for a moment. Chloe an Aras had gone off to drink. C’lest had gone somewhere with Neiven for the moment. I explained to Quarcy to events of the night that he had missed. An he did something I had never seen before. He asked for my hand. Out of curiosity I obliged him. He did some sort of transfer between us. It was an odd sensation but I felt better. Less drained then I had been moments before. Granted I was still physically tired from everything that had occurred. But now I was not also aetherically drained as well.
We discussed some theories on the enemy before C’lest returned. I let her give Quarcy her side of the events of the night. After all I had been distracted with healing a few times. Shortly after I excused myself for the night. I needed rest.
Other then that the days have been busy but uneventful. Nothing serious to note besides those few days.
(Yay a day off! An journal time as well. Can’t let another day pass. XD Might start to forget some of the details otherwise. That an Arthur agreed to spend today helping me clear content I have not yet gotten to touch. Like Alex 11 & 12 and Sophia. I am actually interested in trying Sophia Ex. First Ex I’ve been interested in learning since Ravana. Also I am roughly about 6 or 7 Umbrite remaining before my relic is ready for the next phase. Depends if I get luck on any extra sands. An I really need to start making some RP friends outside of my FC. *hides* Anyways! Journal! Yay! XD)
What a night. Total chaos is putting things nicely for that evening. The day after our mid-week mission that is. We had guests at the house. Tara and I dropped by after our work.
Tara and I had went about dealing with the tasks we had been assigned after my prank earlier in the week. Tara doesn’t like the conjurer’s guild. Or rather they don’t seem to like her. But my presence with her seemed to keep things to just dirty looks. After all my mother had once studied there an some of them know who I am because of that connection. Well probably also the fact I knew a few of them from injuries I needed treated as a child when my mother wasn’t home.
There was a rather colorful young lady visiting the house. Her name is Naho. I wasn’t paying much attention to our guest at first. I was sort of tired from all the work I had done already. So I was mostly content to linger beside Tara over towards the back.
Oni and Aimee came out of the back from the direction of the personal rooms. I still wanted nothing to do with either of them. But Oni stopped before us, holding out two small satchels for Tara and myself. I was still treating him as an officer as I asked what he wanted from us this time. Apparently they were chocolates. Made by Raiden. As a thank you… I couldn’t resist the idea of chocolates being given to me by Raiden… Though I can’t see how they are thank you chocolates. Our work was meant to be a punishment. Maybe apology chocolates from Raiden cause of Oni? I can’t begin to guess. Still… They were chocolates.
I was just silently munching on those chocolates as I stood by Tara. Then Naho came over. She wanted a chocolate. I was torn between sharing an hording my prize. I finally gave in since she was a guest an offered her one. Instead of taking the one I was holding out… She took the one hanging out of my mouth. I was speechless to put it mildly. Tara of course was amused by my predicament.
Naho then wandered off for a moment or two before coming back over. I tried my best to be nice. I was flustered though from that moment earlier. Not angry though. More of shocked an surprised. The moment was interrupted when someone mentioned the coffin in the storage room. Everyone headed in there. I figured it was best if I went in as well. Just in case someone caused something bad to happen.
It was chaos. Utter chaos. Tara dragged me from the room. Others abandoned the room too as C’lest and Neiven cornered poor Quarcy. Something about butt biting vampires. I was glad to miss whatever occurred next. I chose a spot outside of the rooms to sit down an quietly finish my chocolates. Well until Naho came out of the storage room an plopped down in my lap an made herself comfortable.
The girl was every inch confusing. An curious. Well I think it was the name she called out in her sleep before grabbing my hand. The tears left behind before she woke up an ran off. I guess a part of me was curious what caused that sort of suffering. As well as part of me knew that feeling. A longing for someone. Maybe I will seek her out an at least check on her well-being.
Tara an I went upstairs an got into Kagato’s stash of rum. We both needed some after our day. I needed something stronger then the wine.
The next day was another mission. We headed out to Southern Thanalan. Something about some shepherd needing help. Something about the whole thing seemed fishy to me. I can not recall any shepherds in Southern Thanalan before. There is not much in the way of vegetation out there. I was fully prepared to be facing our reaper friend again. Though I was also just slightly hung over too…
There was a strong dust storm as we reached past the gates from Central Thanalan. An Cactuars… Who were trying to make us into pin cushions. We ducked for cover as quickly as we were able. Many of us ducked into one of the gate’s towers. Chloe had some grenades of some sort she used to clear us a path to get out.
We ran down the road to try an get away. However there were more cactuars. An very little covering. I threw up a shield to try an protect us from the worst of the needles. I can’t remember who, but once more the path was cleared an we made a break for it. We reached our destination finally. I took a moment to catch my breath as Rhisi talked with the Shepherd.
We moved to deal with some local peistes who were bothering the area. An found one possible cause that kept drawing those creatures to the area. But before we could do anything to deal with the problem we were attacked. Some strange man in the strangest of outfits with a mask over his head. He sent more cactuars to attack us. Aimee, Tara, and myself threw up shields to protect the group from harm. So much shield usage was making my headache I started with so much worse.
I shouldn’t have done it. I shouldn’t have used that skill with the way I was feeling. I resorted to Dissipation. Daisy added her powers to mine to keep the shield going strong. My normal soft blue aether changing to a beautiful shade of turquoise as Daisy vanished in sparkles as her power became mine for a short while. My head was throbbing badly after that. Then Dusk added onto the aether I was already using for the shield. I felt like I might be sick. Too much aether… Of course it did not help any when Felix stood behind me an basically used my shoulder to line up his shot at the enemy…
I collapsed after the enemy vanished an the attacks halted. I was glad it ended when it did. I was afraid I might pass out if I had to hold that shield much longer. I was only vaguely aware of anything after that. Dusk had helped me to my feet an onto Jazz’s back, Tara’s chocobo. I don’t think I could have made it back to the house on my own. Between the throbbing of my head an so much aether usage to the point of nearly being sick…
Back at the house I picked a spot to sit on the floor against the railing of the stairs leading down. Tara plopped down beside me an we just sat there for a while, both exhausted. Rhisi eventually arrived back at the house an brought the two of us some bubble chocolate. C’lest had been kind enough to bring us some water an cool towels. I was thankful for their care. I don’t think I could have moved if I wanted to.
I was feeling slightly better the next day. Well enough to meet Felix for our drinking date out in Coerthas anyways. I just figured I would take it easy on the drink since I was still fairly drained. We got to talking an eventually I made a bet with Felix. So we left the tavern an went to my house in the Goblet. I bet him I was a better shot then he was. I guess I shouldn’t make bets when I’ve had two glasses of wine.
It took me two shots to hit the wooden sword on the dummy in the yard. It took him one… Damn him. The bet was if I won he would let me do his next check up. If he won… Damn it… I have to wear that Thavnarian dress for a week… My cheeks are burning just thinking about it. Thankfully he didn’t mention what week I have to wear it. Hopefully I can find a week where I won’t have to see Raiden much. I’ll never hear the end of it. Hopefully it is a week I won’t have to see Nathaniel or Leera either. I have never worn that outfit since the night Leon made me.
Yesterday I went to join the others at the Mist near Oni’s house. I mostly kept to myself though. I was still trying to regain my energy. I really shouldn’t have relied on Daisy like that. It is so very draining because I am still not strong enough. I guess I really do need to practice an make my aether stronger. Not that I plan to let Oni know he won in that regard.
Quarcy came to talk to me for a short while. He had managed to find a nice prize. A scholar soulstone of his own. He was asking questions on how it might be possible to awake then fairy slumbering within. I gave him my opinion an told him what I knew from working with Daisy even though I had never had to awaken her from the state like the one he had found. Mine had been passed to me by my Uncle. After Quarcy left I mostly sat there an half listened to other conversations going on around me.
I thought I heard Felix mentioning something about shooting Leera… I was only half paying attention though. Maybe I misheard him. I will have to check into it personally. Not that I think one shot would be enough to put any of the subjects down so easily. Still… I was concerned for Leera. Though I probably shouldn’t be.
Eventually I dozed off for a time before heading home to actually find my bed. I was apparently still more tired then I thought.
Spirit of the Warlock 