Chapter Text
"In face of the destructive forces of Thanatos unleashed, now it may be expected that the other of the two 'heavenly forces,' eternal Eros, will put forth his strength so as to maintain himself alongside of his equally immortal adversary.”
You’ve always been creative. It comes with the territory of being the Warrior of Light, you think. People sometimes reduce your role down to your strength as a fighter, but anyone with a sufficiently large force can beat a problem into submission. What you’ve always been proud of your ability to do is to come into people’s lives, listen to their problems, and come up with something new, something they’d never truly considered before. You are able to see past all of the minutiae that trips up others and get to the heart of the issue. And for that, they call you a hero, a miracle worker, the Warrior of Light.
So when you come into the encampment of Alliance leaders preparing at Porta Praetoria for the final push into Ala Mhigo to recommend a plan so unusual that anyone else would call it insane, instead of outright dismissal you instead only receive concerned looks and a barrage of questions. Their concern is not unexpected, and though you are not entirely convinced they are simply worried that they will lose you as their secret weapon against the Garlean military, against Zenos, you answer them calmly until finally they talk themselves out. This is what you were good at, this is why they kept you around, and they know it.
Though you could tell they don’t fully believe in your plan, they will convince themselves later that this was always in their best interests. This was simply a strategic diversion before their grand invasion, a foolhardy distraction to give much needed extra time to prepare, and not a way to avoid the battle entirely. You fondly recall how Aymeric and Estinien had believed the same when you suggested treating with the dragons. They thought it a foolish endeavour up until the moment dragons flew to Ishgard’s aid. Even with such a success under your belt, when you tell them that you plan to surrender yourself to Zenos and that within a week he and his legion would withdraw peacefully from Ala Mhigo, nobody truly expects you to succeed.
The soldiers manning the walls of the great city of Ala Mhigo look at each other in obvious confusion and fear as you calmly ascend the steps towards them. They most certainly are expecting this to be a trap. Why else would the champion of Eorzea be casually approaching them, a warm smile on his face?
When you call out to them your intention to approach the gate, they bark out orders, trying to maintain some semblance of control over their own emotions, which you gladly obey, placing your sword and shield on the ground in front of you before holding your hands up and over your head. You didn’t genuinely fear any of them, but still a stray bullet from a panicked guard would make all that was to come much more difficult.
As the gates finally open and a contingent of soldiers surround you, you greet them warmly, stating your request to be brought before Zenos and your assurances that he would be very disappointed if he learned that any of his own soldiers had delayed their meeting. The veiled threat delivered with a smile does the trick, and flanked on all sides with gunblades drawn, they gather up your weapons and march you into the walled city and through towards the main palace.
As the familiar sight of city streets give way to decorated walls and manicured gardens, you marvel at how beautiful the palace of Ala Mhigo really is. You hope that when all this is through, the people of Gyr Abania will once again be able to enjoy its splendour, though you know you have a lot of work to do to get there, and even if successful, it is unlikely you will be around to see the result. A sacrifice you may have neglected to tell the Alliance leaders, but such small deceptions were necessary with your plan. Hopefully Zenos would also find your offer so enticing he too would not think to question too much of it.
You see him once you are marched into the throne room proper. It seems that a messenger had not in fact been sent ahead to warn him of this strange procession to see him, as he lounges on the throne, cheek resting on a closed gauntlet, and apparently barely awake. It amuses you how even in the bulky armour of a Garlean legatus, he reminds you of a large cat, more keen on spending the day bathing in warm sunlight than leading an army.
“Lord Zenos,” The apparent leader of your guard announces, his voice echoing in the grand hall. “The Champion of Eorzea arrived at the gates and has surrendered himself to us. We have brought him before you as a prisoner.”
The change in Zenos’ demeanour is immediate. You are glad, in the end, that he had not been warned, as there was no opportunity to hide how eagerly he perked up at your title, and you feel all the more confident in your decision to come here. The mask of indifference slips back quickly enough, if not twinged with a curiosity that demands to be sated. Though his movements are slow and deliberate, he does rise from the throne and descend down to meet you, parting your guards with his mere presence until you stand before him, needing to crane your neck up slightly to meet his gaze.
“I must admit, eikon slayer, while I had expected you to seek me out, I presumed you to be the tip of the sword that gathers outside our gates as we speak. Yet you come to me alone and entirely at my mercy. Why?” The meaning of Zenos’ words do not slip past you. He has made it clear that he knows about the upcoming invasion and how the Alliance planned to use you in it, until you disrupted that plan with one of your own. It was perhaps a test to see if you would deny it, though you could tell for all the calculating, his question was genuine.
“I had a different plan,” You answer honestly. “One I propose to you alone, and that might simplify the situation considerably.”
Zenos raises an eyebrow and you know that you have at least piqued his curiosity. When he steps away from you, waving a hand casually, you take that as his permission to continue with your carefully prepared pitch.
“You desire to fight me once again, you’ve made yourself clear on this, and I would gladly indulge you in it. With two conditions. First, I may ask you any question I wish, and you must answer honestly.” Zenos stops his slow saunter around the room to look at you again. Whatever he had been expecting, it clearly wasn’t that. He seems to consider for a moment, then begins to walk towards you.
“And your second condition?” He muses, and you are bolstered that he has not outright dismissed your proposal already.
“That if I win our bout, you must do anything that I ask of you.” He circles around you, reminding you once again of a stalking predator, though you hold your ground and stare straight ahead towards the empty throne. This was the moment to see whether this gamble would pay off.
“If you win, my savage beast, I would expect to be dead. Though if I am victorious, you would hold yourself to the same conditions?” He purrs in your ear from behind, as they flick involuntarily from his breath on you.
“I would not expect you to spare me again if you win, but yes. Though I will not attack any of my allies for you.” Zenos hums his assent, though seems unsurprised by your provision. “Would you like me to hold you to the same standard?”
At that, Zenos scoffs, though whether it is because of the boldness of your assumption that you will win against him or because he does not hold the same loyalty to his own men, you are unsure.
“That will not be necessary.” Is his only response, though it does not provide any further clarification. The men still lining the halls do noticeably shrink at his announcement that he does not care for their safety, though Zenos it seems only has eyes for you. He has completed his circle and returned to your front, looking at you directly now, as if to determine if this is a trick.
“Very well, I accept your proposition.” He says at last, seemingly satisfied, and steps away from you and back up to the throne. He barely inclines his head towards one of the soldiers standing against the wall. “Return the eikon slayer’s weapons to him.”
If the soldier is surprised, he does not show it. You imagine hesitation towards Zenos’ orders does not get one far in his service, and within seconds he has stepped forward with your sword and shield, holding them out to you. Zenos reaches the top of the steps and examines his large holster of katanas, finally choosing one and turning back to you.
“You want to fight now? Here?” You’re not that surprised at his eagerness, though knowing his flair for the dramatic, you had expected slightly more fanfare than an impromptu battle where you had happened to find him.
“You have issued a challenge and I have accepted, Champion of Eorzea. If you wished to delay, you should have chosen your words more carefully.” He grins down at you, and you can’t help but smile back. He has a point, and you know it. This was your plan, your decision, and now you have nothing to do but to hope it works.