Dane

note: contains spoilers from 6.0: Endwalker MSQ; a continuation of Sojourn, 2022.

“I’s not of’en yer at a loss fer though’s. Words, mayb’.” Joseni stood at her back, closing the gap by pulling the raen to his chest. Gently adjusting her braid with a gloved hand to not get caught between them. His thumb grazed the nape of Dane's neck, her shoulders shuddering as she returned from her daze. He was good at sneaking up on her, developed over time while he chipped at her walls. The first person in several turns to accomplish such a feat.

“...Sorry.” Dane mumbled. Her head tilted to one side, offering the usual place to rest his chin. It only belonged to him. “It just feels... odd to not have a plan. To have everyone go their separate ways, wave us off to do what we please. I should have expected it, but...”

“They care abou’ y’, paloma. Y’see th’ love an’ everythin’.” He buried his face into her shoulder, gentle purrs revving up. “After all tha’ fanfare across th’ universe, they’d move th’ star fer y’.”

“I suppose you’re right. As always.” She rolled her eyes, the reaction he’d sense without even looking. But a snarky response never came. Instead, they both focused on the scenery in front of them. The airship soared through white and fluffy clouds, occasional pockets showing a vast sea. The sight, paired with the salty air, calmed Dane down considerably.

They stayed like this for several minutes, appreciating just how monotonous their journey was. To be another couple in the crowd of travelers, not the spectacle she’s used to. To chase the dream she buried in order to become the Warrior of Light: finding a home in someone's heart, starting a family. Being happy.

Sharing a job with your significant other wasn’t such a bad thing. At least, not to Dane. Late nights at The Elegy, performing gigs or not, she enjoyed being by Joseni’s side at the bar. They fell into a comfortable rhythm together, flirting and teasing between orders. Thankfully, it was never too busy and both bosses tolerated their honeymoon phase. One even encouraged it.

She looked forward to these nights the most. Early on, they both traveled for work and time stretched on for weeks without seeing one another. A woman so independent, so carefree, suddenly felt anxious when Joseni wasn’t around. After closing, she was eager to continue the night. The usual, ‘Your place or mine?’ once they stepped out into the Goblet’s quiet evening air. Spending what little free time they had together before it was time to board another airship, cargo caravan, or boat to the next job.

The outskirts of Gridania were lined with twinkling lights late at night, guiding souls home or onto their next adventure. For the two, they settled on Dane’s apartment. The streets were empty as they headed towards the ferry, nudging them both to be a little more affectionate in public. Conversations about their feelings, reflecting on little, trivial things. She still had a long road of catching up in that regard, often bad with her words and even worse about opening up. But tonight, she wanted to change that.

“I still yet t' see what the hells y' find attractive about m', but I suppose it must mean somethin' if I got you.” Joseni gently tugged her closer to him. Despite sporting her signature pout, he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

“I don’t know, everything?” Dane blurted out, catching herself with a sigh before she spilled more.

“Everythin’?” He blinked, a slow smile creeping up on his face even as his cheeks burned red. A comment like that from her was rare, but genuine. And it caught him off guard.

She rushed off, a few steps ahead, and began her list. "Mhmm. Your eyes, your scars, your stubbornness– mileage varies with that one, don't push it– how caring you are, that cute pout of yours." Joseni simply stared, confused, until he realized what she was doing. He wasn’t going to let her revel in this alone.

“Should I continue?” She spun on her heel to face him as she asked, not realizing he quietly bridged the gap between them.

“Yes, please.” He answered, amused by her reaction. Her eyes blinked rapidly, nearly stumbling in shock, until he reached for her arm. Lifting it overhead and spinning her without warning.

“What–” Her mouth hung open, still processing every movement as it happened. Reeled back into his arms after the turn, he lightly dipped her, face hovering ilms from hers. “...And that, I guess.” She mumbles. It wasn’t as if the moment felt stolen from her. It was oddly romantic. Like a scene from one of her romance tomes.

He pulled her back to him after planting a kiss on her nose. “I... was feelin’ reminiscent.”

Once the initial shock wore off, Dane followed his rhythm. Placing her free hand on his shoulder as his gravitated to her waist in proper form. They both refused to let this moment end so quickly. Doing this together in the city, late at night, felt normal despite being so spontaneous.

It reminded Joseni of the night he first laid eyes on her. She was a beautiful stranger, alone and in tears. Singing and dancing across the bridge, as he watched in silence. He hadn’t danced in several turns, yet suddenly felt the urge to join her.

Tonight was far too eventful for Dane. At several points throughout dinner, she wanted to stand up and leave without a word. It shouldn’t have been that bad, really, but she didn’t prepare for the embarrassment her two friends dished out. The doting, random stories, suggestive glances aimed between her and Joseni. It felt like she introduced him to her parents. They certainly dressed the part. He wore a nice shirt and one of two good pairs of pants he owned, his hair styled back and out of his face. She put extra effort into her appearance, too, tying her hair back with a silk bow and donning a matching sundress.

It was tiring to wear such a pretty outfit, maintaining her composure in something that required etiquette. Avoiding stains or spilling, random shuffling of the skirt as she moved. How did people deal with this? She felt like a porcelain doll sitting on a shelf. She sighed, pulling keys from her purse to unlock the apartment door. Joseni followed her inside.

Dane grumbled most of the way home, tension and shame lingering behind like a grey cloud. She still enjoyed the company, but several comments replayed in her mind. Kehv spilled a secret or two no one else knew, while Lia kept alluding to... things she wasn’t ready for. Her and Joseni had only been dating for a few moons, her lack of experience dragging their relationship at a glacial pace. A faint whisper of commitment or marriage was enough to make her spiral. And she could only imagine what his thoughts were, if those teasing words scared him away. It was just too much to overthink, yet here she was. Doing just that.

She sighed again as they settled inside, reaching for her ponytail first to untie that damned bow. But a hand stopped her, gently holding onto her wrist and pulling her in.

“Jus’... give m’ a few more minutes of th’ bow.” Joseni whispered, leaning in for a tender kiss. His fingers combed through her hair, caressing her exposed neck and shoulders. She melted at that simple gesture, nerves dissolving completely. The opposite of what she expected from him. He seemed anxious the entire evening, scrutinized by Kehv’s blunt questions, and shot several glances at Dane for help. They both needed help.

But the teasing didn’t push him away. Overwhelmed, yes, but the night reaffirmed his feelings. Reminded of how he felt when he first laid eyes on her, how he continued to fall deeper for her every single day. The gentle push from Lia he needed, when she gushed about how special Dane was. She was, indeed, special.

She rested her head against his chest and smiled, content to experience this forever. The warmth of his embrace, his pounding heartbeat. And for the first time, he uttered the three words she never expected to hear:

“I love you.”

It wasn’t enough to just lay in bed, rolled up and buried beneath layers of blankets. To go outside and run for hours, only stopping when her body ached from pure exhaustion. To instead focus on work, reading, or writing to push the pain down. She wallowed in it alone, her attempts to put them into words, or something tangible, ending in failure. It was a familiar struggle, something she knew her entire life.

But wherever she ended up, be it La Noscea, Othard, or the Shroud, she always found her body of water. The Blessing was just that– an easy escape. A place, usually untouched, by the presence of others.

She took a deep breath, all for show, and dove in. Her body slowly sank to the bottom, schools of fish curiously nipping at her skin and tail on the way down. She wasn’t in any real danger from this; in fact, she anticipated it.

She had plenty of visitors as she dipped in and out of consciousness. Loaches, snails, and other bottom feeders congregated as if she were just another log or stone. Her tail dug itself into the sediment, anchoring her in place. Prone to naps underwater, she learned better than to let herself be carried away.

It was eerily quiet, the ambient sounds of pressure and currents passing her horns. The vibrations constant, soothing. It separated her from reality, all issues and worries fading until they became manageable. Approachable. 

Kehv and Lia were Dane’s oldest friends, co-workers from her first real job at the restaurant when she was just sixteen. As young and timid as she was, they quickly took her under their wing and protected her like older siblings. Paying extra attention during training, ensuring customers treated her respectfully; simply being pillars of support.

Lia spent the most time with her on the floor as a hostess, or waitress, depending on the shift. Kehv, being the manager at the time, was responsible for scheduling. It was obvious he kept the two together, joining her on nights Lia didn’t come in and vice versa. After a few close calls, and one unfortunate incident where she ended up punching a customer, Dane learned to appreciate the extra care and patience.

There was more to it, though. She noticed the way they both acted around each other. How he stole glances at her from across the room, pulled her by the waist when she slipped or lost balance. How she hovered close to him, a hand on his back, when they spoke. The occasional heavy sighs when he wasn’t scheduled to work. Dane was too perceptive, always observing everyone around her, but hardly vocalizing her thoughts. It was much easier to mind her own business. After one particularly long shift and a dozen sighs, however, her patience waned.

“...Why Kehv?” She blurted out without proper pretext. It’s not how she imagined this conversation going, if it ever would. Lia turned to her, confused. She was doodling at the host stand and lost in her own little world. Evidence of a slow night between rushes.

“What?”

“You only sigh a million times when he is not here. And you look so sad.” Dane grabbed the notepad and held it up for her to see. Scribbled hearts filled the page. “If you both feel the same, why not talk about it?”

“He likes me?” Lia snatched the pad back and tossed it over her shoulder, leaving Dane utterly confused. Her eyes followed its descent until it collided with the bar behind them, knocking over a glass in comedic fashion. No, this really wasn’t how she imagined this conversation going. “How do you know? Did he tell you?” Her eyes widened, pleading for a certain answer.

“...Yes,” she lied. Absolutely crumbling under the pressure and guilt. “L-Last week, when we were closing. He was not sure how to tell you.” 

A fire burned in the hyur’s eyes, too focused on planning her next move to notice Dane’s fidgeting. “...I have to go. I need to see him.” She untied her apron and tossed it on the stand before rushing out the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow!”

It all happened so fast. Before Dane had a chance to correct herself, talk Lia down, or keep her from leaving. Despite the lie, she was certain they both liked one another. They seemed content together, yet sad when the other wasn’t watching. It was odd witnessing their uncertain limbo; she just wanted them to be happy. It reminded her of the fictional tomes she read, characters who took several chapters to finally accept their feelings. Unlike those stories where she was simply a reader, she could be a catalyst. Partially responsible for the happiness of others.

Still, she worried about Lia’s outburst and whirlwind of an exit.

Rin practiced his tumbles on the soft grass, half-succeeding as he collapsed to the left or right in dramatic fashion. The miqo’te was a few moons shy of four, taking advantage of his freedom to run and burn off endless pools of energy. The reason Lia insisted they spend the afternoon outside, of course, confined to the fenced-in yard. It gave her the opportunity for a short break when Dane visited.

“I don’t suppose you have more wisdom to share.” Dane hugged her knees to her chest. They both sat a short distance away under the shade of a nearby tree. Normally she’d be in good spirits around the two, but couldn’t bring herself to fake it.

“Isn’t it enough for me to say that everything will work out?” She held her hand out, accepting the beetle her son had brought to her out of the blue. Typical child behavior. “And even if it doesn’t, we know what you’ve been through before. You’re strong, Dane.”

“I don’t want to be strong.” She watched as Rin sprinted off again, nearly tripping over his own little feet. Not even that brought a smile to her face. “Not this time.”

Lia didn’t know what to say. Ever since they met, over ten turns ago, she occasionally spoke words so profound they stumped her. It was like that back then, too, when they worked at the restaurant. Could it have been her experience with that family, those tomes she read, or some sage advice from a customer? Maybe a combination of all three.

“Okay.” She stood, brushing the dirt and grass from her skirt. “You don’t have to be. You can fall, crumble into a million pieces, and give up. But whatever happens, we’ll be here for you. Always.”

After all this time, Dane still struggled to accept such an offer. To be a burden. Lia and Kehv had been there for her since the beginning and knew more than anyone. Her troubled past, that family, how she managed to move on and build a life for herself. They were a constant in her life, supporting her. And she was tired of the guilt.

Her eyes began to cloud with tears. Not from the gesture, no, but out of frustration. Frustrated at herself for being so stubborn, and for no good reason. For once, she could take a small step forward.

“You’re Akari’s girl, right? Hmm...”

“...Koharu.” It slipped out so easily. Dane’s given name. “It’s nice to see you, Iehide.”

“Koharu.” The man smiled, plopping a hand onto her head in greeting as if she were a child. He towered over her by several fulms, as all raen men did in their small village. While she hated the gesture, she tolerated it simply because it was custom back home. “It’s been many summers, but you’ve grown quite a bit. Still an adventurer? Or have you found a place to settle down?”

Iehide sat at the edge of the wagon he was loading shipments into, patting the space next to him. If he had time to spare, she could take her own detour. Akari wouldn’t mind.

“Haven’t settled down yet, I’m still having too much fun.” She turned to get a good look at him. His eyes were focused on the mountains in the distance, more wrinkles framing his face than she remembered. Time had passed all too quickly while she was off saving the star, only managing to visit her aunt between journeys.

“I can imagine. A few moons ago, Akari told us of the family you saved from a large beastkin.” He chuckled. “And your companion, a mage of some sort? The scholar.”

Dane froze, remembering the event in question. All detailed in a letter she wrote to her aunt last spring, down to the mention of G’raha. Did she let it slip by accident? The possibilities made her head swirl, overwhelmed with thoughts and excuses she could make. Her identity as the Warrior of Light remained a secret to protect her home from harm, going as far as changing her name once she joined the Scions.

“...It was quite funny. What are the odds that a skilled mage shows up to help an adventurer save a family? It must have been impressive to witness such an uncommon sight.”

Her shoulders sank in relief as he continued. Thank the Twelve that her aunt suddenly had a knack for twisting stories. “...It was something. I’m fortunate he was there to help.” But in reality, she had done all the work. The slayer of primals barely lifted a finger.

However, she enjoyed this version of her. An average adventurer caught up in the struggles of others. She was curious to hear the other underwhelming tales Akari shared.

note: contains spoilers from 7.0: Dawntrail MSQ

To leave a mark on this world, one needed to bring value to it. Brilliant minds and bodies were recorded throughout history; knights, scientists, adventurers, and a royal bloodline resided in Alexandria until they merged with the Source. And with that transition, everyday life and survival became a brand new existence. To live eternally, with its limitations, surrounded by countless vices.

Of those, Citrine found her calling in music and fighting, leaving a mark within both realms. But her name was an omen. A daunting one. The Sea Swallow, a woman and her feral soul, was a namesake rooted in catastrophe. To be devoured, swept away by the undertow, dragged beneath dark and levin-laced waves. A never-ending calamity. It seemed fitting– at least, to her– because she carelessly navigated life through its deep abyss.

In reality, her eyes never met the sea. A cool, salty breeze hadn’t carried her away, creating tangles in her golden hair. Unlike [redacted], she never yearned to see it like the sun. It lived within her onstage through melodies and rhythm.

Each match in the Arcadion pushed her further to the edge, closer to being done with all of this. A larger, lump sum deposited to her account if she made a bigger spectacle of losing, receiving heavier blows, or refusing to forfeit.

From words to reality, romance had been lost in translation. The tomes with creased spines held a special place on Dane’s bookshelf. Over and over, she read those stories despite knowing each twist and turn, their climax and resolutions (or lack thereof). It was her favorite genre. A true guilty pleasure.

But still, she was simply a girl with no history. Such images only existed in her mind as she read words on parchment, making her a permanent audience. A witness to those who experienced love, but never a participant.

At some point, without even realizing it, she became one half of such a pair. The man she considered a friend, and nothing more.

It was the way he gifted her a bouquet of sunflowers, as a friend. Offered his arm to her while they walked, as a friend. Treated her to dinner on Valentione’s Day, as a friend. All gestures she’d easily find in a romantic scene, yet they flew right over her head. Until that trip to Gyr Abania.

Together, they searched the valley for three days to hunt a gagana. It was a commission Joseni could have easily taken on solo, or with his brother, but he was determined to bring Dane along. The reason? To be alone with her. While his intentions weren’t entirely pure, he was excited to be by her side for a few days. To get to know her better.

And there were plenty of opportunities. To avoid confrontation with a wandering treant, Joseni pulled her to a nearby bush before the seedkin spotted them. They huddled together, him holding her close for unnecessary protection. Everything fell into place once she heard his heart pounding. They stayed like this for several minutes, even after they were clear from danger. Dane looked up to meet his eyes and he was already watching her, a fondness she finally recognized was reserved solely for her.

Several, tense moments passed and neither leaned in. Too frozen in fear, embarrassment, or some combination of the two. He took a long, deep breath, and sunk his head to her shoulder in defeat. Wrapping his arms around her once more, and she returned the embrace.

It was difficult to tell if she made the right decision this time around.

Everyone moved past Dane without a second thought, shuffling supplies and boxes to set up camp. Another commission that she insisted signing up for despite her condition. A bandaged torso, still in recovery from that damned goat’s kick to her rib. A few weeks had passed since the incident.

“How are you holdin’ up?” Hani placed a careful hand on her back, as if she would break from any sort of physical contact.

“Perfectly fine, considering I can’t do jack shit.” Dane snapped. A rare curse, bottled up and waiting for its opportunity to burst. She was far too restless to sit back and let others handle the work right in front of her. But those were her best friend’s orders. “I should have stayed home.”

"That's what I like t’ hear.” The miqo’te moved in a little too close, forcing her to make eye contact. If anyone had an invitation to invade her personal space, it was her. She was smiling– genuinely– at the sight of Dane obediently following directions. A rare sight. “Once we’re done settin’ up, you can help with dinner. No heavy liftin’, ask Aria or Theo for help.”

“I can bench more than they can, Hani. This is embarrassing.” She playfully poked the raen’s nose, agreeing with the sentiment. Of course that was the point she was trying to make. “...Fine.”

These days marked a change in her, something she wouldn’t realize until several seasons later. Rather than grieve her loss of productivity, these moments carried both valuable lessons and memories. Sitting idly wasn’t the grave sin she thought it was. Her friends looked after her, cared for her, protected her. She wasn’t a burden to them even as they picked up the extra work due to her injury.

The breeze carried a crisp chill through the North Shroud, a typical autumn greeting Dane recognized after several turns. At any given moment, the air bounced between warm and cool, a fluctuation she felt ill-prepared for. Too warm for a sweater, too cold for a single layer. She traced the goosebumps on her arms as she followed a trail west, trees shading her from much-needed sun.

She could barely make out the turning leaves framing the sky. Oranges and reds dripped from fresh rain. The change in season marked a tangible end, evidence of passing time. This chapter of her life, filled with cherished memories and people, said its goodbye. Summer was truly over.

It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. All good things must come to an end to make room for more, a fresh and positive outlook she recently adapted. Not because things were perfect or falling into place, but because she simply let things be. The choices she made up to this point, and the ones still pending. She didn’t want to wait for the perfect moment anymore, stuck in limbo until the stars aligned. If she was happy, then it would be her time.

Dane wandered from the trail, through tall grass, and plopped down at a river’s bank. The air still felt too cold, but sunlight peeked through an opening in distant branches. Birds sang and danced in the sky, trees, and piles of leaves, not paying her any mind. It was the perfect scene: quiet, yet full of life and warmth, that she loved about this season’s transition. She dug through her bag, pushing aside snacks and journals, and found her half-finished tome. The next several hours would be spent here wisely.

note: contains spoilers from 7.0: Dawntrail MSQ

“Was this your doing?” The Warrior of Light asked, eyes fixated on the key she fiddled with. It was yet another relic from her predecessor, more questions and closure that would likely remain unfulfilled. Echoes from past or concurrent lives plagued her dreams, the source of her standing at the inn’s balcony so late at night. She should be sleeping peacefully by her husband’s side, cradling her stomach, but fear and insecurity prevented such peace.

The Traveler never knew loneliness. Other than the close bonds of her fellow Convocation seats and those she met on her adventures, two nymphs always remained at her side. Both glamoured to maintain appearances, one flaunting long mauve hair and the other with bright amber eyes. In that vision, Dane immediately recognized their souls.

Her brief residence at The Arcadion introduced her to another reflection: two Hyune with a complicated relationship. Though the woman, blonde with blue waves that resembled the ocean, seemed to be… more fragmented. She had a twin sister, further branching out their legacy. The other was a man so gentle, yet protective of her.

The first coincidence, however, had been a gift from Hades before she knew of their history. Shortly after being introduced to Joseni, they traveled through Coerthas on a mission. When the Ascian saw them together, he was far too amused to let it go. He forced an echo onto Dane, witnessing what she’d now know as the Rejoining of the Second. A loving family that burned alive, leaving ash and devastation in its wake. The two survivors fought until the end of that world; one for salvation, the other to destroy it.

While she sought to blame Azem for these coincidences, the fault truly lied in Venat. Hydaelyn. But now that she was gone, finally put to rest in the aetherial sea, closure would never find Dane.

Of those echoes, lives, and memories, she suddenly felt pressured to be happy. And when she was, it was paired with overwhelming guilt.

Azem deserved to live and die in peace with the two she loved.

Dane should not have become a martyr alongside Joseni to a world engulfed in flames.

Citrine and Baal would have a normal future if not for the Source’s uprooting of their shard. Her sister would still be by her side.

And what of the rest? If she was reborn, time and time again in every world, did they all end in failure? Loss? Grief? Loneliness?

Life always had its share of unique challenges. From the moment she was born, cast aside by her birth parents, Dane adjusted to this difficult existence. To keep herself afloat, she clung to the hope that her resilience would pay off. That these experiences would strengthen, steel her for the painful reality of adulthood. And somewhere along the way, she’d be rewarded.

The first sixteen summers of Dane’s life were far too painful to remember at times, even hindering her ability to assimilate to ordinary life in the city. She was molded to follow directions without curiosity, suffer in silence, and simply live as an apparition in her adoptive family’s home.

Once she boarded the airship to Limsa, however, the challenges bore silver linings; others praised her for dedication, hard work, and a job well done. It was addicting. She constantly took on commissions from the Fisherman’s Guild, built a network of connections, and padded her savings to ensure she’d be financially set for the foreseeable future. While her friends and free company members saw a woman too married to her work, she only visualized success.

It stayed that way for several turns. Until she met him.

Joseni proved to be the most challenging force, an unpredictable variable who threw a wrench into her perfect idea of a life. She retained her independence, a trait he absolutely adored. He saw her differently than everyone else, hardly intimidated by her blinding light that mirrored the sun’s rays. She was passionate, driven, and had a take-no-prisoners attitude.

But as their relationship progressed, two lanes abruptly merged to one. How would a woman so career-oriented fare with a man who dreamed of settling down and starting a family? Cracks began to surface, sparking discussions and ‘what-if’s.

He was hesitant, nearly walking on eggshells around her, to suggest moving in together. Her simple refusal without compromise or reason exhausted him to the point of contention. They were both too stubborn, rarely transparent or vulnerable about past trauma that burned them deeply.

Dane surrendered first, but it took his near-death experience to pull her back to reality. That wake-up call was what she needed. It wasn’t feasible to be completely self-sufficient, refuse support from others, and still expect to foster a healthy relationship. The thought of losing him was just too overwhelming, more impactful than her career.

“What of this world? What would we become?”

When the Warrior of Light’s soul floated freely between time and space, her body had been left in his arms. Fragile and small, punctured by the blade of his katana. Blood seeped through the green fabric of her armor, black as night when both hues collided. She wasn’t here to witness the aftermath of leaving him.

Despair failed to overtake him as the gods anticipated; he was far too angry to turn. She abandoned him in such a way that momentarily derailed their plans to end this shard. His love was never meant to be a martyr. Neither was he.

Fire razed the battlefield, smoke and ash clouding a sky that hadn't seen the sun in days. He was the sole survivor of this world now, the rest picked apart by beasts or devoured by flames. But he was not its only witness.

“Fear not, for this world’s ashes will fertilize the soil for new life. Our world.” The voice spoke. To fight with an expiration date, a scripted outcome. He no longer wished to take part in it.

He ignored the whispers, fixated instead on the woman in his arms. Dane looked peaceful despite the fatal wound she suffered, her eyes closed as if she were simply dreaming. It brought him back to the moments they shared in that flower field, their family’s home.

“Would you not suffer the same fate?” She spoke softly to him, raising a hand to wipe the tears from his cheek. It had to be an illusion. “Would you also choose to die?”

A golden light blinded him, her body becoming weightless before fading. Slowly crumbling to the earth like ash. But her silhouette rose and clung to his back. “Take back what was stolen from us.”

The witnesses stood in fear. Her anguish had reached Joseni from the sea, luring him to dreams born of their fragmented souls and hearts. If they were meant to die, she was determined to trade blows.

“Destroy them.” The apparition demanded, unraveling a red string from her chest and weaving it through his fingers.

Their last spark would erupt in flames: the second shard’s rejoining. Both warriors prayed fervently, shared desires taking form, and surrendered their humanity. A strategy not yet seen in this world, though the witnesses recognized it immediately. The two had not fallen to despair.

A reasonable chunk of Dane’s days were spent looking upwards. Not in a metaphorical sense, but the very literal one. Her husband towered over her by nearly a fulm, something they both took advantage of after four turns. It wasn’t always that easy. As flexible as she was, her neck put in the most work these days to have a proper conversation with him.

If she stood at his side, her hands instinctively wrapped around his forearm. Their natural holding space. If she hovered behind him, her eyes leveled at his back, she’d look like a lost duckling. That’s just how life was in the short woman's universe.

Every night, they shuffled through the kitchen together preparing dinner. As comfortable as they were, it meant they had room to be a little clumsy and invade each other’s personal bubble. They both turned abruptly, his chest colliding directly with her face. His field of vision only captured a blonde blur while hers had a monopoly on his entire torso. A fantasy that could spur nosebleeds depending on the person.

But Joseni had his own struggles. His wife was quiet as a mouse, her footsteps light and inaudible despite his sensitive ears. With his gaze focused forward, he only saw the top of her head. A lethal combination if he was clumsy enough. And he was.

His broad steps abandoned her when they learned to dance together; her legs only reached half as far, causing some awkward shuffling and collisions. His chest and upper arms regularly bore scratches from her horns, mostly accidental, but Dane felt guilty for being the cause. Over time, he reflected on them fondly, like they were simply part of the routine. A consequence of weaving their lives together so intimately.

Today marked two summers since Dane sat opposite of her regular physician. And Therapist. And Healer. All three were roles he filled on her journey to enlightenment. A joke, mostly, since her condition had been a tangled mess they both enjoyed unraveling. Another joke, of course, because she found it irritating after their time and progress together.

Her splitting headaches had reached a point she couldn't ignore. Throbbing and buzzing sealed itself between her horns, disorientating her at best. But on her worst days, a stormy sea raged within her mind: dots and blurs clouded her vision, the overwhelming pain and clamoring. It robbed her of each sense, reduced to an inconsolable shell of a woman.

“How is it now?” He asked quietly, piercing eyes betraying any softness to his voice. She felt so small under his gaze, especially during such a vulnerable experience. A tear rolled down Dane’s cheek, caught on the grooves of her scales.

“Too much,” she whispered. “Please.”

Days like these were rare nowadays; her sessions now took place weekly. She endured them every other day the first few moons, wasting away the entire autumn season. She lost control and sight of herself, rebelling in creative ways to fight the unfairness of it all: chopping her hair off and piercing her bellybutton. It was her body. She needed the reminder, to be the one calling the shots.

Once winter brought its chill, the appointments became less frequent as a breakthrough presented itself. Her pitiful healing powers had less hold on her body, including its side effects that heavily outweighed the benefits of such a gift.

And from Starlight until this very day, she worked tirelessly to free herself. To hold back if she suffered an injury, prevent her body from attacking weaknesses all at once and mitigate those pesky headaches. It was a flowchart she had to visualize every time.

She cuts herself (an example). Aether attempts to seek out the wound. Block it.

If the block is unsuccessful, the cut heals. As the cut heals, the headache begins.

If the block is successful, she controls the pace of healing. The headache is prevented.

“We’ll stop here today.” The healer placed a hand on her shoulder. Though he seemed more like a physical therapist again. “Take care of yourself in the meantime, stress only adds to your burdens.”

‘No shit,’ she thought to herself. As if it were that easy to leave stress at the door. To turn it away and send it packing. Alas.

After settling in the plush armchair with a needle ferrying vitamins and nutrients to her veins, Dane closed her eyes. In mere minutes, comfortable silence embraced her. No thoughts or worries plagued her mind, simply nothingness. A relief.

“Is something on your mind, friend?”

The question pulled Dane from her daze, eyes pushing beyond the horizon. The view from Fisherman’s Bottom left nothing to be desired; unlike other guilds, the ocean breeze and ambience circulated within its open wall. Sounds of birds, tides, and merchants filled the silence. Passing ships and the occasional breaching fish off in the distance. And she always kept looking further.

“Oh, no. I was just thinking.” It was still morning. If she finished up work here, she’d have time to catch a ship to Othard. Would she need to take the airship to Gridania first? It added another day to her plans, but she could prepare for a longer trip this time, and…

“Too much, I reckon. You only just returned from the journey, and it’s already calling you back?” Wawalago sighed, wiping drenched hands on his apron. He was elbow-deep in shipping containers of young gourami. Though they were golden, at this age their scales had yet to shine. “As much as I enjoyed our last trip, I recall it wasn’t as leisurely for you. Barely standing still as long as there were fish to catch."

Dane plopped down on a stool next to the dunesfolk and rolled up her sleeves. Looking down into the water, she began separating the juvenile gourami by sex. Their differences were discrete at this age, but she had spent moons wading the waters of the Azim Steppe and knew them well.

Her dedication was the very reason for this job; a new species would be introduced to collectors once enough generations had spawned, and the raen sat at its peak. She was one of the first to board the ship to Othard, among other guild members, and the rest was history. If one noticed the surge in popularity of certain, vibrant-hued species over the summers, credit belonged to her. Something she took pride in.

“There’s just so much I haven’t done. Have you heard of Prism Lake? There are stories of a massive, thirty-fulm carp that shines brilliantly like a rainbow. No one has yet to see it.” She smiled to herself. Her next grand adventure for a new catch always excited her, especially when no one accomplished such a feat.

“Dane.” He looked at her, arms crossed over his chest. “You’ve done enough for now. Arguably, too much. Everyone sees the work you’ve put in, your notoriety has spread beyond Eorzea at this point. Isn’t it time you reflect on that from, say, the comfort of a vacation?”

She sat, hunched over, watching fry swim between her fingers. She wanted to consider his words, genuinely, but what did a vacation even mean? It was a brand new concept to her.

From the moment she stepped off the airship in Limsa two summers ago, Dane only operated to be productive. To keep moving forward, and never fall back into the despair she experienced her entire childhood. She wanted to make a name for herself, be a main character in the stories adventurers would tell.

“I don’t want to.” She paused. “I don’t know how.”

“Easy fix.” Wawalago held a finger up, an idea coming to mind. He wandered to his desk. “You’re off the books for a moon. No travel. I’ll inform the gate immediately.”

“Wait– no!” Dane rose from the stool, her tail knocking it over in one, agitated, flick. She turned around and sighed, hating the thing for causing more trouble. “...I don’t know what to do.”

“That aquarium of yours needs work, right? How about you focus on that? It’s still work, I reckon, but I don’t think it’s possible for you to sit still for more than a few ticks. Take the ferry to your ward and enjoy the beach.”

There was no use fighting back; he was true to his word and definitely had the influence to keep her off every ship spanning the three city-states. This was all too frustrating. And embarrassing.

“...Fine.” She relented, setting her fallen stool upright, and sat back down.