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The air was filled with a mix of celebration and melancholy. The Lightwardens had been vanquished, and Eulmore was becoming a close ally of the Crystarium once more. Celebrations were in full swing across the once blighted land. Mugs of ale clanged together as soldiers and citizens swapped tales of heroic feats.
But beside that, not overshadowed or ignored, was the other side of it. The a people lost, turned, homes decimated. And for the people of the Crystarium? They had lost their beloved leader. Yes, the Warrior of Darkness assured that he was kept safe in a soul vessel and transported back to his home, but it was hard not to think otherwise when his still crystallized form stood atop the tower.
Flowers and mementos were placed at his feet. Some thanked him for his help and for providing a safe place for them and their families when others had turned them away.
Lyna shared in the sentiment of the citizens. She knew firsthand how the Crystal Exarch, G'raha, would lend a helping hand, sometimes at the detriment of his own health.
She couldn't remember a time in all her years with him that he ever slept. He was always up and always working. Exhaustion would coat his words and make his movements sluggish, though he always claimed it was the effects of old age getting to him.
But she knew better. She could tell there was always something hidden. Half-truths and secrets were a constant recurrence. She learned to live with them and trust him, regardless of how much she wanted to know. She knew he cared for her. And that was enough.
Sometimes she could still smell the smoke. It wasn't exactly something you forgot. Though she was young and her memories fuzzy from more than just the haze of the Sin Eater attack, certain parts remained crystal clear.
Her father turned, his body glowing, and tendrils of white floated above as he disappeared. Moments later, her mother, sharing the same white of her hair, now dyed in blood and ash, dropped to her knees in front of her. She doesn't remember what her mother said, but her hand had been grabbed, and they ran. A blur of white and lavender before her memory fully fades, along with the screams.
"Is aught amiss, captain?" A newly recruited guard brought Lyna out of her memories.
"I'm fine. Is there something you needed?" A small shake of their head. "Then get back to your post."
The guard nodded with a salute before turning around. Lyna's eyes lingered for only a moment before walking off. She had been having more memories resurface lately. Her mind wandered where it was once sharp and focused.
Perhaps she has gotten too complacent. Her troops certainly have since Sin Eaters were no longer a concern. The most action she sees nowadays is a stray lake viper wandering a bit too close to the city gates.
She let them have this for now. After everything, they deserved some respite. Though that didn't mean she wasn't going to keep an eye on them.
The rest of her day had been blissfully dull. She greeted citizens as they left or entered the city and screened any new people wanting to pass. Soon, the newly returned night sky greeted her. It was still hard for her to believe some days. So used to the constant piercing Light. There were days she convinced herself that she would wake up and the Light would be back, along with the Lightwardens. That all the trials and losses had meant nothing.
Lyna took a deep breath, closing her eyes before releasing it. She mustn't think that way.
When her relief came, she gave her report with a salute and made her way back into the city proper. People still milled about, about a handful of places open this late. The Crystarium was a place that never truly slept. It wasn't like Eulmore, where their lights and parties lasted through the night, but it was a place where, if you were awake, there was a chance you could find something to occupy your time.
Such as the Wandering Stairs. It was the liveliest place in the city at night. Even more so, as people gathered to continue celebrating their Star being saved.
She should be happy and joyful like the others that were dancing around, but instead, she felt a cold pit in her stomach that she couldn't shake.
Walking up to the bar, Glynard waved and set a mug of ale down before she even took a seat. With merely a raised brow, he laughed and said, "First round is on me, Captain. Enjoy!"
She shrugged as he walked away, not about to turn down a free ale. As the liquid rushed past her lips and down her throat, she took another curious glance around. Many of the bounty hunters she recognized as helping the Warrior of Darkness in their journey against the Cardinal Virtues. They were all gathered around one of the tables, food and drink covering every inch of surface as they indulged and reminisced. At least most of them were… one of them seemed to be passed out against the table, and no amount of shaking was waking him. She couldn't help but wonder how many drinks the poor sod had.
Shaking her head and looking away, she let herself relax. She watched as people danced, spoke, and celebrated as the bells passed by. She flagged down Glynard when her mug ran dry. Only when she started feeling lightheaded did she slow down and push her mug away.
"Another pint, Captain?" Glynard pushed a full mug of ale towards her; the force of it causing some of the liquid to splash on the already sticky surface of the bar top.
She held back a grimace, already having one too many tonight.
"No, but thank you." She pushed herself away from the bar before he could talk her into another round and gave a small smile.
The area had died down somewhat. The moon was now high in the sky, eclipsed only by the Crystal Tower. She felt her feet move before she realized what was happening.
Lyna slowly climbed the steps. She hadn't entered the Tower since the final fight. It wasn't as if she was avoiding what was inside; she simply had other matters to attend to.
The guard at the door nodded with what she swore was pity. She hated it. Too tired and tipsy to care at the moment, she pushed through the doors and made her way to the transporter to take her to the higher levels.
The sound of her boots hitting the crystal floor echoed in the cavernous tower. The structure was familiar. She knew the Tower as much as she knew the city. Every room, every hall, even down to the cracks in the smooth surface of it. The Exarch never let her wander too far from him when she was young, but as she grew older, she became skilled at escaping and hiding. She would often find herself in rooms she wasn't supposed to be in, but the Exarch was always quick to find her before anything happened.
Except one time.
The guards closed the large doors behind her as she looked around.
"Grandfather?" She called out, but she was met with silence instead. He was always there waiting for her when she had been dropped off by the Settlement Council, who took care of her.
Always there with his face shrouded by the hood, but his warm smile was visible.
She took a step forward. She knew the way to the Umbilicus, as that's where they always went first. But a thought occurred to her. She could explore the tower more. She was 11 years old and surely old enough to be on her own by now. Grandfather never left her alone for long, but since he wasn't here…
She smiled and rushed forward and up the first staircase to come up to another large door. The Exarch never let her near the door. Coming up to it, she used all her strength to push open the door and rushed through.
She gasped as she took in the sight. A large blue crystal, bigger than the aetheryte in the courtyard, floated above a large cavern. Taking steps forward, she saw that the cavern was filled with all types of machines and technology she was unfamiliar with. She buzzed with excitement and bolted forward. There was a light blue pad nearby, and when she stepped on it, she felt her feet stick firmly before it whisked her away to another section of the cavern.
When the pad had landed on a platform, she was met with rows of glass cages lining the sides. Creatures that she had never seen before snarled and clawed at the glass as she passed them. Lyna tried to act tough, like the monsters inside didn't make her hands shake and her heart pound in her chest.
She didn't even know what she was doing here. She wanted to explore the Tower. Uncover any secrets that lie beneath, but don't come face to face with monsters! She was about ready to turn around and head back, but the pad had disappeared. Looking up, she saw that it was gliding in the air, moving back to its original position at the top of the cavern.
Her whole body shook now, trying to desperately to think of a way back. Peering over the edge once more, the sight of the unfamiliar technology now instilled fear. Taking a step back, the entire platform shook as a roar cried out behind her. She fell to her knees and looked back to see another one of those creatures staring her down. Except this one was larger and, unfortunately, not behind a cage. The beast snarled as its saliva dripped from its mouth and rushed forward.
Lyna screamed and dashed out of the way as quickly as her legs could take her. While she narrowly dodged its attack, it used its tail to slam against the glass of one of the other beasts. It cracked, and between the two clawing and bashing, the glass shattered. The second, smaller beast was no less threatening than the first and slowly stalked forward.
Lyna squeezed her eyes shut and pulled her arms up in a feeble attempt to protect herself.
"Ignis!" Lyna opened her eyes in time to see a ball of fire race past her and hit the smaller beast. It cried out, stumbling, before tumbling off the edge of the platform.
What she saw next was a rush of white, red, and black, a golden staff raised high in the air, summoning a meteor shower. When it was brought down, the large beast instinctively ran; the meteors were large and covered a large area. Several struck the beast, some going right through it, while others embedded into the tough skin. It cried out before falling limp and lifeless. The meteors and magick faded away, and Lyna looked up to see the Crystal Exarch breathing heavy.
Lyna hiccuped as tears started to fall, and that finally grabbed the Exarch's attention. He spun around and dropped his knees in front of her.
"Lyna! Are you alright?" His staff lay beside him as he brought his hands up to her shoulders, holding her and moving his head to check for any visible injuries. Even though his face was shrouded, he looked panicked.
"I-I'm okay…" She sniffed, and her body was rigid. Despite her tears and puffy eyes, she was still determined to try to look brave in front of him.
He only relaxed slightly at her words, not fully convinced.
"Let's get you to the Umbilicus. I can look you over and treat any injuries there better." Lyna merely nodded and stood on her shaky legs. The Exarch was able to call one of the pads down, and they both stepped on before they were whisked back up to the top. It was a short and quiet journey to the Umbilicus from there.
Once inside the room, the Exarch had her sit on a chair and started his exam. Her head and abdomen were checked first, and her limbs and joints were checked for any breaks or fractures. Once he was satisfied that there were no pressing injuries, just some general soreness, he cast a small cure on her to alleviate the pain. She took a deep breath as the spell washed over her.
"May I ask what you were doing down there? It's not safe. I had the door closed for a reason. I'm not sure how you got past it." There was no anger in his voice. He was never angry at her when she got into trouble. His first concern was always her safety and whether she was hurt.
Even so, she looked away from him. Her hands fiddled with the threads of her shirt. He didn't speak or repeat the question. He sat there waiting patiently, only moving to organize the small kit that held gauze and the ointment used on her. He placed it out of reach on a shelf when she finally spoke.
"I just wanted to explore on my own." A thread had come undone on her shirt, and she started tugging on the strand, unraveling the stitch at the bottom of her shirt. "You told me all the stories of this big hero and… I wanted to be like them too…"
She felt hands, one warm of flesh and blood and the other cooler, made of crystal, grasp her hands. She looked up to see the familiar smile he always wore around her.
"While I can't let you explore the Tower by yourself, how does this sound? You and I can take a tour through Lakeland. I can tell you more tales as we scour the ruins in the area."
She visibly brightened at his words and nodded enthusiastically. She hasn't seen much of Lakeland past Fort Jobb. Though she has always wondered about the structures in the distance. The Settlement Council gave her a good education along with the rest of the children in the Crystarium, but they never would have permitted any of them to see anything beyond the crystal walls of the city.
Lyna threw her arms around his neck as he hugged her close.
Lyna let out a breath as she stood in front of the doors to the Exarch's old study. She hadn't set foot in there since the Warriors of Darkness placed their souls in the soul vessels.
She opened the door, and she couldn't help the jolt of fear rushing through her at not seeing him standing there, staff grasped in his hand.
The crystalline room was the same as it always was. The map of the other stars was etched into the floor as the mirror at the top of the small set of stairs glowed and hummed with the energy of the tower.
The doors to the Umbilicus were to her right, and she pulled out the key from her pocket. When she approached the door and unlocked it, the door easily gave way.
The inside was as she remembered it. Extremely messy. Books were scattered all over the floor, stacked on top of each other on chairs, and wide open on the desk. She approached one book that had been left open and saw frantic writings and symbols written in the Exarch's familiar script. She traced the lines and kept the book open. It might have seemed strange to some, but she didn't want to change anything in this room. If she kept everything the way it was, it would almost be as if… he never left. He had simply stepped out for the moment and would return. Likely with their weekly dinner, they have resumed after his return from the Tempest.
Lyna shook her head. He wasn't coming back, and she knew that. Besides, she was here for a specific item. She reached his desk and pulled on the bottom drawer. The arcane lock that had kept it closed had dissipated the moment the Exarch left.
Inside the drawer lay the familiar book from her childhood. The brown leather was worn, peeling from the edges, and the paper inside had seen better days. The gold-inlaid dragon on the front had slight chips in it. Overall, the book looked as if it were seconds from falling apart. She knew that it was old and that it had somehow survived a building collapse when her grandfather found it. Where he had found it, he had always kept a secret, but now she realized that some of the places in these books weren't just made-up cities and towns.
Ever so carefully, she lifted the cover, and the words "From the memoirs of Count Edmont de Fortemps" sat in the middle of the page. On the next page, she recognized the words immediately.
"And so they came, at a friend's behest. Heroes once celebrated as saviors of Eorzea, brought low through treachery, their names blackened with royal blood… With the memories of the lost and dreams of redemption, with hope yet in their hearts, they came."
Lyna could hear her grandfather's voice speaking the words he spoke so many times. She could hear him talking of the city, its people, the way they faced, and how the Warrior of Light would change the fate of Ishgard. The story was a favorite of theirs, and they shared it. She loved hearing the daring tales of the hero, the fights against dragons, and the Archbishop Thordan.
Never did she think that it was all real.
She spent a few more minutes reading, making sure to give care to the pages she turned. Each word brings back memories of her grandfather tucking her into bed and reading to her. Each word he spoke brought the words on the page to life. Eventually, she closed the book and took a breath, holding back the tears that stung her eyes. She clutched the book close to her chest and walked out of the Umbillicus.
Her steps took her to the stairs once more. She started climbing, higher and higher until she reached the top of the tower and her eyes settled on the familiar doors. She knew what laid beyond them. Countless people have already passed through them with offering and gifts of flowers and thanks. Yet she hasn't.
Lyna scowled at her own cowardice. She was supposed to be a brave and strong daughter of the Crystarium. Instead fear gripped her like a vice, her arm unable to move to push the door open and finally see what had become of him. She knew of course. The Scions had told their accounts of what had happened. But until she saw it for herself, they were just words. Nothing concrete. Nothing real.
Lyna sat still in her chair, refusing to budge from the scowl on her face despite the sting of antiseptic being dabbed on her wounds. They weren't severe enough to warrant healing magic but they were still sore. Though her physical wounds weren't the only things that hurt.
Being knocked down yet again in the training grounds during practice was not only humiliating as she could still hear the snickers from some of the other recruits, but also made her rethink if she should even be in the Crystarium Guard.
She clenched the wood of the seat she was on as the thought crossed her. No. She was doing this. She loved this city and she wanted to protect its people and her grandfather.
Speaking of, the Crystal Exarch had finally put away the antiseptic and was now getting a few bandages to carefully place over her wounds on her face and arms. He never spoke when he did this, which Lyna was grateful for. It gave her a chance to collect her thoughts. To think of another response to convince him to let her stay in training. The Settlement Council was not pleased when she wanted to forgo a council position and instead pick up a weapon to defend the city. The Exarch, however never once stopped her, though she could tell he was hesitant when she announced it.
Though with how much she was getting knocked down and hurt, she wasn't sure how much longer it would be before he pulled her from training.
She chanced a glance at him, but as always, the hood covered most of his face. The dark shadow, which she now knew was magicked, obscured his eyes. The only way she could tell what he was thinking was by his mouth. His lips pressed in a thin line, and his jaw was tight.
**
**
"Please don't take me out of training." She couldn't stop the words tumbling from her mouth. "I want to keep learning and fighting. I want to help keep people safe." Her eyes burned with unshed tears.
"Oh, Lyna…" The Exarch's mouth fell open at her declaration. "I would not do that to you. I know how much this means to you. While I do not enjoy seeing you get hurt after every practice, I would never stop you from pursuing what you want."
Lyna ducked her head. She didn't like it either, much less disappoint him. But she knew it would be worth it in the end when she was finally given her uniform and able to stand with the rest of the guard.
She felt him take her hand and found him smiling at her.
"May I ask? What is it that you're practicing with?"
"A sword. Everyone uses one."
He hummed, thinking to choose his next words carefully. "There are different types of weapon mastery." The Exarch put a finger to his chin and thought. "How would you feel about a ranged weapon? Like a bow and arrow."
Lyna blinked. She hadn't considered switching weapons. It was just common to choose a sword to fight, to be in close quarters with the Sin Eaters. Though the thought of being ranged while still able to attack and defend from a distance was appealing. She just can't see herself wielding a bow and said as much.
"There are others. There's white magic, black magic, or red magic." She shook her head at all of them. None of them sounded appealing to her. He stopped, thinking for another moment. Suddenly, he lit up; even from beneath the hood, she could see the excitement. "I have an idea. Why don't we go to the training grounds?"
She furrowed her brows but nodded. He held her hand as they exited the Tower and entered the training grounds. The young recruits in training were gone, replaced by guards going through drills or sparring with each other.
As they saw the Exarch they all paused and saluted him immediately.
The captain of the guard came forward. She was a tall Elven woman, her blond hair pulled straight back into a small bun.
"My lord." She saluted as she stood in front of him. "We were not expecting you. Is there anything you require?"
"We were hoping to watch you and the other soldiers practice if that's alright. Especially if there was a sparring session." His smile was gentle, trying to put the soldiers before him at ease.
"Of course, my lord. We would be honored to have you here."
Before she could turn around and start giving out orders, the Exarch grabbed her attention.
"We would especially like to see you in action, captain, if that's amenable."
The captain seemed taken aback for a split second, before she straightened her expression.
"Of course, my lord." She turned around and started giving orders out to the soldiers. Weapon racks were pushed to the sides, training dummies were put away, and the space before them was cleared into a large arena fit for sparring.
The Exarch and Lyna stepped off to the side to a bench nearby. She hopped up on it, her gaze trying to take in everything before her. It was much different from the ground she was used to seeing and using. She recognized some of the soldiers that took up teaching the recruits and found herself sitting up straighter as they passed or got close.
The captain was speaking again, giving out formation orders and the sparring rules. After she was done speaking, each person held out their weapon of choice and it glowed faintly. Lyna furrowed her brows before being hit with clarity.
"They're blunting their weapons."
"Very good." The Exarch praised her and she smiled. "Its an effective way to practice with their weapons against a live opponent without causing lasting or permanent harm."
She watched as two soldiers faced each other, saluted and took their stance. They both had swords. Lyna tried to watch them and see who would win. The Hume was strong she could tell from his size, but his balance seemed weak. The Mystel on the other hand was much slimmer but his feet were sure and solid against the ground.
"The Mystel is going to win by using his opponents weight and lack of balance against him." She spoke never breaking eye contact from the scene.
"You're certain?"
"Yes."
He hummed but kept quiet afterwards.
When they were given the signal by the captain they both moved. The Hume was immediately on the offensive, trying to overpower his opponent with strength alone. The Mystel, seemingly prepared for this, countered every single one of his attacks. He was pushed back a few times but his footing stayed sure and secure.
When the Hume started losing steam, his breaths becoming ragged, the Mystel struck. He was now giving blow after blow to the hume until the other became so overwhelmed he ended up dropping his weapon. The Mystel swept his legs up from under him, the Hume landing with a thud that rattled a few stones nearby. The mystel raised his sword and swung straight down to the man's chest.
It would have been a killing blow if not for the blunted weapons.
"It seems you were right."
"Well…" She paused for a moment. "I've been trying to study how the other recruits fight to see if that might help me with sparring and I've been able to pick up on certain patterns."
They kept on watching. Spar after spar until finally the captain stepped forward and called on the last soldier to step forward. He was an Elven like her and wielded a sword like many others. He seemed older, if the graying hair and scars were anything to go by, and he stood with more confidence than the ones before him.
The two stood in front of the other, both shifting into a proper stance. While the male held his sword and shield, the captain lifted two circular weapons from her sides. Lyna hadn't seen them before now. The captain put one foot forward and starting bouncing in place, the weapons hanging loosely from her fingers.
When the signal was given, the man barley had time to strike before the captain threw her weapon with a flourish. He dodged but was unable to move when it circled back, hitting him in the shoulder. He stumbled and the captain threw her second one as she caught the first blade. He used his sword to parry the attack.
The man moved forward towards the captain to try to get a hit on her, however she was quicker. She kept flinging her weapon spinning and dashing with a speed she'd never seen before.
With enough distance between them, she lifted her arms, shaking the weapons and Lyna could see a mirage of colors swirl around the captain as she spun in place. The other man seemed to know exactly what this was and braced himself with the shield in front of him.
A barrage of colors and metal clashing metal when the man suddenly fell to his knees with a shout. The captain took her opportunity and dashed forward one arm around his holding the sword and other holding to sharp edge of her weapon against his neck.
"Do you yield?"
"Yes." He nodded with a sigh. She helped the man up from the ground as he twisted his neck and limbs. "Really, must you make an old man look like a fool in front of the young ones?"
"Ha! Sounds like you need more training if your complaining from a sparring loss." She smirked but it was clear to two were close.
Lyna rushed forward towards the captain, her excitement clear.
"I've never seen anyone fight like that! What are you using to fight?"
The captain looked down at her and smiled. She lifted the circular blades from her sides again and fanned them out so she could see them better.
"They're called chakrams. Most people don't see these as very powerful against a foe, but if you know how to wield them correctly, they can be as devastating as any sword." Lyna looked at them in awe. She hadn't seen any chakrams available during training. Unlike the other swords and canes used to fight, she could easily see herself wielding these. Flinging them against Sin Eaters while able to keep an eye on her surroundings from distance, able to support her fellow soldiers from a distance before an attack reached them.
"Can you teach me?" Lyna asked, hope clear in her voice.
She saw the captain glance towards the Exarch behind her. She didn't know what look he gave her, but whatever it was, it made the captain smile and she nodded. She motioned Lyna over to a weapons rack and behind it lay a worn set of chakrams. They had clearly seen better days but Lyna knew the intent.
"Come to me after your training is over and I'll show you the basics. If I feel you have potential I'll continue to teach you."
Lyna could feel herself smiling wide. She could already feel her confidence growing and was already looking forward to the next training lesson.
"Agh!" G'raha grunted, his mind reeling back from the memory as his back hit the hard ground for the 3rd time that day.
"Hah! I win again!" Alisaie had her rapier pointed towards G'raha wearing a victorious smirk.
"It seems so." He sat up, rubbing at the sore spot on his back. "It seems I'll have to work harder to get back to how I was on the First."
Alisaie put her rapier away and held out a hand to help G'raha up. He gratefully took her hand and stood up, dusting off some of the dirt on his new clothes.
"I know I said I wasn't going to go easy on you, but you seem a little distracted." They walked to the edge of their makeshift sparring grounds and sat down. G'raha wiped the sweat from his brow. He still wasn't quite used to the humidity of Mor Dhona.
"I suppose I am." His gaze shifted to the Crystal Tower that overlooked the region.
"You miss them." It wasn't a question.
"Yes. While I don't regret my decision, it's difficult for my mind to not wander to the city I called home for 100 years. To the people who gave so much of themselves for it to thrive and… the people I cared for." Lyna entered his mind. He hoped she was doing well. He frowned when he realizes they never got a proper goodbye. The words they shared before they had confronted Elidibus were not enough.
"She's happy for you." Alisaie placed a hand on his shoulder with a smile. "She wanted us to tell you that. To be happy and live your life without hiding anymore."
His eyes widened before softening with a smile.
"I wish I could write to her. To let her know she has no reason to worry."
"Tch, you're forgetting we have our own personal delivery moogle and she'd be happy to ferry a couple letters here and there." She gave him a playful shove, dissipating the melancholy atmosphere.
"O-Oh, well I wouldn't want to be a burden." He wrung his hands. While it was true the Warrior was able to traverse the two worlds at will, it seemed wrong to use them in such a way.
"Raha she offered to do so." She deadpanned. "Write a letter to Lyna. I'm sure she'd be more than thrilled to hear from you. I can bet you that she and others have letters they wrote for you as well."
He still fidgeted, but eventually relented with himself.
"Alright."
"Perfect! Now how about we head back? Tataru's probably has supper going and knowing you, you're starving." Alisaie stood up and stretched, a few pops from her spine could be heard.
G'raha was about to protest her comment but his stomach grumbled audibly, shutting down any argument he had. Instead he sighed and followed her back to The Rising Stones.
The walk was short and spent in a comfortable silence. As they entered the bustling hub, they waved to the people who called out to them.
Inside the Rising Stones, they were met with the aroma of the stew that Tataru was cooking. The rest of the Scions were scattered about the area engaged in their own conversations and activities.
As soon as G'raha and Alisaie walked in, Tataru appeared and pointed at them.
"I need one of you right now. The soup for tonight is almost ready and I'll need help finishing up as well as serving it." She was using her no nonsense voice. It was serious.
Alisaie smiled and stepped forward.
"I'll help you. Lead the way." As she started to follow the lalafell, she turned out back to G'raha. "Go write that letter. Even if you don't send it, you'll feel better."
G’raha let out a breath and made his way towards his room. He had finally been given the clearance from Krile to be given the privacy of his own room. He was given Lyse's old room (or he assumed if the various pugilist arms he kept finding were anything to go by).
As he entered the sparse room, he set aside his staff and took his boots off, by the door. He walked over to the desk in the corner of the room that was already covered in papers and books. Trying to be somewhat tidy after the teasing from the Scions when they saw the Umbilicus, he stacked up the unwanted papers and closed the books. He put them all aside or back on the shelves.
As he sat down and grabbed a fresh sheet of parchment, he paused. He was unsure how to start. He had sent countless letters over his years of the Exarch, but this was different. This wasn't discussing trade deals with Eulmore or responding to status reports on Sin Eater attacks. He wasn't sure how to start a letter to Lyna. They had grown closer after his return from the Tempest, but he still felt things were fragile. As if one small misstep or word would shatter what they had. He knew it was ridiculous, that their bond was stronger than that, but it didn't stop the thoughts from running wild in his head.
G'raha sighed. Alisaie and the Warrior would surely scold him if they saw him like this.
Then a thought hit him.
The message from Lyna the Warrior gave him when he awoke from his slumber. He could see his granddaughter in his mind, saying those words, wishing him to be happy and free. Despite being her caretaker for many years, it was usually her making sure he was okay, that he was getting proper rest and meals.
He smiled and picked up the quill and started to write.
Lyna rested her head against the cool crystal of the door. Her reflection stared back at her as she slid her hand down the uneven surface. She pushed herself off the surface and turned around. Maybe another day she wouldn't be so cowardly.
"Ah, there you are!"
Her eyes lifted to see the Warrior of Darkness herself, her mouth curved into her regular kind smile.
"Warrior. I was not expecting you back so soon. Has something happened?" She couldn't help a slight pang of fear. Her fears were dissuaded the other shook her head and continued to smile.
"Just some unfinished business and," her reached into her bag and pulled out a letter extending it towards her, "a letter from G'raha."
Lyna stopped for a moment before reaching forward. The familiar script of her name in her grandfather's handwriting made her heart ache.
"I'll be around for a few days if you have anything you want to send back. You know where to find me, right?"
Lyna nodded. "Y-Yes, I'll… be sure to find you."
The Warrior nodded and left Lyna to herself. When she was alone she looked down at the letter again and carefully broke the wax seal. It was a long letter and she found herself smiling. Her grandfather did have a fondness for words and long prose even for the most simple things.
'My dearest Lyna,
I hope you are doing well. Lately I have found myself reminiscing on the past. Ever since you have come into my life it has been my greatest privilege and joy to raise you and see the women that you have become. From the small little girl that would run through the halls of the Crystal Tower to a brave captain of the Crystarium. I could not be more proud of you. I know your parents would feel the same.'
The mention of her parents made her breath hitch. She hadn't thought about them in so long.
She kept reading, the letter telling her of the adventures he went on some places she recognizes from her childhood stories. The plans that the Scions are making against an empire, his training that he's going through now due to his long stasis, and how (embarrassingly for her) it reminds him of her training when she was a small kit. She could practically hear the chuckle in his voice as she read and her cheeks flushed.
'I do hope you look back fondly on the memories I share with you. To know you are smiling with me brings me comfort. And I know that you and the rest of the city will continue to grow and thrive in my absence. I know that you will be okay.
~Your grandfather,
G'raha
**
**
Tears started running down her cheeks and she quickly wiped them away to keep them from ruining the letter in her hands. To know her message had been delivered and that he was happy and still had the city, her, in his thoughts despite his new life and the adventures he was going on.
Her gaze fell upon the door once more and she felt a surge of courage.
She gripped the handle and pushed.
Light from the moon and stars illuminated the area, making the crystal glow brighter. It would have been a breathtaking sight but her eyes fell upon the figure in the middle of the area. It was the first time she was seeing it. But instead of fear or grief like she thought she might experience, she felt a sense of calm.
The crystallized form of the Exarch stood tall and proud, with his staff in one hand as he gazed ahead of him. The expression and resilience of the powerful leader he was.
Lyna stepped closer and closer until she was within reach. She was careful to not crush the flowers and other presents left by the people of the city.
"Hello grandfather. I got your letter. I'm happy you're doing well. Though I miss you terribly, to know that you are free to be who want, to go where you wish, and not be burdened or tied down, well. That makes it all worth it. I hope that someday you will be able to see us all again. That you can see that we are doing well, that you have no cause to worry. And… I simply wish to see you again."
She carefully shifted the flowers around the base of his form and sat down. It felt very reminiscent of when she would sit by his feet drinking hot chocolate as he read her tales. The memory made her smile and she knew he was too.
Yes. Though it may take some time.
She will be okay.