Tag: FFXIV The Order of the Sword and Rose

Fallen Rain

On By destiney1984Leave a comment

The last few days had been a blur between waking and sleeping. Syluss’s comforting presence keeping her grounded to an extent. She hadn’t had the drive or want to do much after the events of their last mission. The nightmares hadn’t even stilled with Syl’s comforting presence. Not this time. Vaguely remembered her brother’s concerned presence when she refused to do their usual lesson the next day.

Everything just felt sort of… Hollow. Even as she walked through the Shroud while the rain fell down. Closing her eyes and just tipping her face into the drops that fell.

Wincing as her mind recalled the events again with her eyes now closed. Her feeble attempts to protect herself and fight back. Anata… Anata’s sword swinging at her after one of the headache inducing waves of darkness had struck.

A thump as her body fell backwards onto the wet leaves and grass. Normally blue eyes staring straight up into the rain with a faint glow. That normal shade of cerulean blue lightened to almost ice. Staring blankly for a long moment before drifting closed.

“Are you really going to keep losing it now? I always thought you were tougher then this. What a shame really.”

Destiney blinked as she slowly looked around the darkness. No rain. No forest. Just impenetrable darkness. No sign of some other person with her despite hearing a voice. A familiar feminine voice at that.

“Who is there?” Her voice sounded small even to herself as she sat up to better look around.

“You know who I am. You’ve always known who I am. You just never want to admit to it. You’re scared. Until that day you fully accept the truth… You always will be scared. You will never truly move forward past it.”

Destiney climbed slowly and stiffly to her feet. Feeling for her bow or sword. Neither were there. The edges of fear at being alone in the dark with whatever was taunting her… She took a shaky breath as she tried to focus her aether. Again she was unarmed. Not even aether responding to her.

“Stop being such a coward. Stop hiding behind tools.” A dark clothed figure finally stepping forward. Eyes glowing softly with a blue aether. But nothing more could be discerned in this darkness.

“They banished you. Go away you demon.”
Destiney tensed and readied herself for a possible fight. Even then her hands still shook.

The being shook her head as she sighed in disappointment. “The demon is long gone. You know that. Stop running from the truth! Open your eyes and accept your fate!”

Destiney flinched when the figure’s shape changed. A Imperial with a sneer on his face. Sword in hand. Shaking her head as she took an unsteady step back away. That look… That man… All far too familiar. The fear threatened to swallow her whole.

Suddenly the Imperial lunged for her. Sword aimed for her heart. Just like then. Just like before. Only as the figured lunged, it changed shape. A familiar face. A trusted friend. A part of her family.

Anata’s face. Anata’s sword. Blue eyes widened in surprise. Froze her in place long enough for that sword to plunge right into her chest. Gaze moving to Anata‘s face. The shield woman’s face was expressionless. Tears began to fall down Destiney’s cheeks as she stared at the face of a person she would never expect to harm her.

The voice was now distorted. Like one voice layered over another as it spoke. “Wake up to the truth. Otherwise… You are dead.”

Destiney gasped as her eyes bolted open. Still icy blue and faintly glowing with aether. Breathing rapidly in short gasps. Rain still pelting down over her prone form. Clothes clearly soaked now. Just how long had she passed out for?

It took her a long several moments more before she began to move to a sitting position. Letting the aether fade from her grasp as she began to calm down slowly. Still alone in the woods. Burying her face in her hands.

Was she going mad? Was this her fate? To lose her mind because of something that was entirely her fault?

Anata’s sword flashed through her mind again. Maybe fate wanted her to die… But… She didn’t want to die. What would everything have been for then? She’d lose everything. She’d lose Syluss… Her family… Her friends…

Destiney climbed to her feet as she wrapped her arms around herself. The chill of the rain didn’t bother her so much as her thoughts did. Taking a deep breath before moving forwards. She had to keep moving forward. Had to keep being stronger then the things trying to kill her. It just hurt so much… All she could do was hold onto the things that gave her a reason to fight.

A Path Divided (part 1)

On By destiney1984Leave a comment

(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.

Nathaniel, ( @jonahsage )

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.

One more note under Oni’s door.

Oni, ( @onidephor )

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.

A moment to slide one under Aimee’s door.

Aimee, ( @eyesseeingbeyondtheveil )

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.

Dusk, ( @kindlingdusk )

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.

Soren, ( @sorenspath )

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.

–

Ikara, ( @ikara-esho )

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.

Chee, ( @cheetah-smith-ffxiv )

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…”

On By destiney1984Leave a comment

“This is not the end. Not so much in the fashion one might think. Merely a new beginning. The start of a new adventure. While I might be saying goodbye to the man I once treasured, I am accepting that the Twelve have something else in store for me.”

(Much love and thanks to my dear friend @cheetah-smith-ffxiv and everyone in my FC who showed tonight to offer both Destiney and I support and strength. For Dest you have all made letting this go so much easier. An she needs that right now as much as I do. @jonahsage @sunshineandlotusx23 @kindlingdusk @helenestonefist @ikara-esho (because Ikara and Dest are gonna do a personal thing soon because she had RL to tend to tonight) @onidephor )

Game of Survival

On By destiney1984Leave a comment
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“You just keep fighting. So very stubborn. No one is coming to save you. You are a lost cause. Just another face in the crowd. A worthless soul not even worth remembering.”

Destiney clamped her hands over her ears as she shook her head back an forth. The words just kept going. Always trying to wear her down and break her. Pushing for that edge or trying to find a crack in her protection.

Darkness. It lurked just outside of her shields. Just waiting. Lurking. Testing for cracks. Wanting to devour her. And she was just so tired… A little over two weeks. Only real moments of respite given to her in the brief times of waking.

“You know you just want to cave. They don’t love you. They never did. All they ever did was cause you pain and heartbreak. Why do you cling so desperately to people who have not even saved you. I will win. So why not just surrender and save yourself some pain.”

“NO!” Destiney screamed back in response to the words. To the claws that raked against those shields. Shivering with the chill that was creeping into her skin. She could tell she was losing the fight. Slow and painfully. Even if she could maintain the mental shields… Her body would give out first.

At first she hadn’t realized what she was fighting against until it had already begun it’s damage. It had distracted her with nightmares. Kept her occupied with her own dark emotions. It picked through her memories and emotions as if it owned the place. Once she had realized what was going on she had tried to protect things. Tried to keep things safe. But the strain had begun to wear on her. Slowly she had been forced to give ground. To retreat further and give up more to the darkness.

Then there had been moments when the pain was so strong she hadn’t been able to maintain those shields. That was when she had lost the most ground to the encroaching darkness. Ikara had told her it was when they had tried to cut parts of the curse that seemed to be causing her pain.

Yet those times had also given her strength to fight back stronger once the pain had disappeared. As if the curse had been momentarily weakened. But it couldn’t buy back the lost ground. It bought her time though. Time was what she desperately needed. It gave her brief respites where the darkness would prowl but not attack. Moments where she could breath and bolster her defenses again for the next round.

“You’ll never wake up. Trapped in an endless nightmare. Half-breed. Worthless. You should have died that day. Murder.”

“Stop!” Destiney curled up around the small shining light she was protecting with her body mentally. Every word felt like daggers drawn against her flesh. Some of the words she knew to be true but she tried to hard to deny the rest. Yet she was so tired… She could feel the darkness purring at the moment of weakness.

Waiting… Hungry… Claws like razors…
Ready to finish ripping her to shreds.

Faith. She had to hold strong. Just a bit longer. Never alone. That was the favorite saying for the company. Ikara had said she was working on a way to break the curse and return her to normal. All she had to do was hold on. Think about those who she cherished. Those important to her. Remember what she was fighting for. Even when all she wanted to do right now was shut her eyes for good. If she gave up now… The hurt she would cause to those she cared about.

Shaking hands wrapped around the silver bow laying beside her. No it was her whole body that was shaking. The cold was seeping in slowly. She needed time. Hells she needed saved. She could only fight against this so well on her own. Whoever had designed this had not meant for a person to survive. Not without help.

Tired blue eyes looked towards the heart of the darkness that lurked so dangerously close. She sat up as she tried to calm the trembling enough to pull back that bowstring. An arrow of ice blue light formed between her fingers, ready to be fired.

Names crossed her mind. A silent mantra to draw strength. Names of friends and family.
Her best friend Chee.

The names of her company mates that she considered family.

“Go away! You will not win!” Destiney cried out as she let go of that arrow. The shadow shrank back from the shields. Away from that arrow. An angry hiss from the darkness. Dest dropped the bow back to where it had been before tiredly curling back up around the light. Soft sobs as she held on tightly. She didn’t want to die. Not like this. Surely she had not survived everything to die here like this.

“Please… Help me…” Destiney pleaded softly. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold it back…”