FFXIV Altaholic: An RP/Ask/Art Blog

Junelezen2026 - Day 29 - Rewind

"If you could back and relive any moment... What moment would it be?" "Any? There are honestly quite a few but... Learning who my mother is, meeting her..." He'd been nervous, to the point of fidgeting so much his father had reached over to place weathered hands atop Tsirae's to steady the young Knight. For twenty winters he'd lived under his father's roof, knowing full well the lady of the house was not his birth mother. The elder brothers ensured he never forgot. It had culminated into a rather lonely part of his childhood, never bonding with a maternal figure, despite knowing somewhere out there she might still exist.

"Admittedly... I was upset when the truth was revealed. All these years she had been right in the Shroud. I had seen her, spoken to her, and visited her home, never knowing that was the mother who birthed me."

It had been a bargain. The Lord's wife would allow his youngest son to live with them, be educated, raised and given title despite being a bastard born, and it would give the child a step up in life that he would otherwise not have. The trade off was simple, his mother could never be involved. Effectively, erased. When everything was revealed, the calm demeanor shattered and a floodgate of emotions had raged through him. Tsirae didn't know whether to focus on the betrayal or the relief of finally being reunited. He'd lost so much time, had so many unanswered questions... So much hurt.

Junelezen2026 - Day 26 - View

Junelezen2026 - Day 23 - Thrilling

"We're going to get in trouble..." Planting his feet in the leaf litter, the boy tried his best to look stern, arms crossed. He failed miserably compared to the stubborn young girl staring daggers at him. "Oh Twelves you are a wee coward Tsirae. How do you expect to become a squire with that wiggly backbone." She huffed and pointed an accusing finger at him. "All you've done today is doodle and nap. Lets go on an adventure!"

As the girl reached for a pinecone to throw at him, Tsirae finally relented. A boy of only ten winters, he was quiet and timid, with a cautious demeanor, in stark contrast to Rheyla, who was fiery and boisterous, with a temper that could ignite in seconds. They children were complete opposites and yet despite how much their fought and harassed eachother, they were friends.

"Fine... But we should return before our father's finish their work or they will worry... What if they send your mother to find us?" It was the one threat that would halt Rheyla in her tracks and she shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah yeah... Then we should get going." The threat was enough to rein in her excitement for a moment. Only a moment. As Tsirae caught up, she set off again, taking hold of his wrist and leading the poor boy through the brush. "So where are we going?" Hesitation in the young boy's voice as he watched the familiar trail disappearing into the underbrush. "Some ruins I found. Maybe there'll be something neat." Delving ahead the red haired girl was his only beacon among the green foliage that seemed to get more dense as they went further from the safety of the path. He made a little sound of concern but she brushed it off. "It'll be fun, a little adventure. It's exciting, and if you're going to be off fighting dragons one day you need to be brave." Pushing through to a small clearing she proudly showed off her spot. Dilapidated remnants of a building lingered in a small clearing, slowly overtaken by nature as wood rots and crumbles, and vines slowly crawl over stone. Wrinkling his nose Tsirae gave a little huff. "It's just an old building... Nothing really thrilling about it..." Mostly because he was still worried they'd get in trouble. Rolling her eyes, Rheyla released his wrist and continued on ahead, rummaging through some fallen wooden beams, searching for anything that might be of interest. Taking a few steps to the side of a stone wall, half collapsed, he felt a shift, then crack. His scream echoed through the clearing as the rotten branches and leaflitter crumpled under his weight. Thankfully the old well had since filled with mostly debris, and so the poor lordling only tumbled a few fulms in. Hearing the scream Rheyla meandered her way over to see the poor boy laying in a pile of branches and leaves, looking right sorry for himself. "Well, at least THAT was thrilling no?" Her cheeky little smirk not helping the situation in the slightest. The glare she received only added to the girl's amusement. "Just get me out of here..."

Junelezen2026 - Day 22 - Slow Motion

Pain. That is what I awoke to. A searing agony as wounds were being closed in an attempt to save my life. The fact I had even made it this far was a gift from Halone. Many had not.

My friends had not. In that moment of blurred vision and spiraling headaches I wondered if any of them had been rescued... Or even recovered from the attack. It had happened so fast, dragons descending from the blizzard and decimating our entire contingent.

The voices were muffled, commands by the tone of some, panicked cries from the families and moan of pain by the injured. It all muddled together as if echoing from a distance, the pounding in my head making it difficult to focus.

Trying to look around, I became aware of the bloodstained sheets, the discarded bandages and in corner tossed aside... What remained of my armor that had to be pried off me.

I fell back into the darkness. A small reprieve from the overwhelming situation.

At some point later I awoke. I had no concept of time, how much had passed or even where I was for a moment. Everything had slowed down, processing was delayed and I found myself staring up at the stone ceiling trying to comprehend the past day... Days? How much time had even passed? I wasn't even sure where I was. It could have been Falcon's Reach... Or back in Ishgard itself. Laying there, the experience slowly returned. Dragons roaring as the snow covered evening was lit up by fire and magics. The scream of orders against deafening winds, weapons drawn as we moved into what formations we could. Some didn't even register the attack before they were struck down... At some point I slipped into a nightmare filled sleep. The memories replaying in graphic details.

I watched them die.

It felt like my legs were made of stone, I wanted to run to them, to Quinn and Maria... They were gone before I could trudge through the snow. My armor felt like it weighed to much, slowing me down. Perhaps it was the adrenalin. The fear. It made every motion feel slow, dragging and delayed. I was so close to them, I could see their armor in the snow...

I woke again. The images vanishing as I was ripped from an uncomfortable sleep, memories blurring into reality as I finally registered where I was. A familiar infirmary, one I had been to many times after difficult training or encounters on patrol. Never to this extend as my body screamed at me not to move. Muscled burned with the effort of moving, and with a deep sigh I conceded trying to sit up.

It did feel real.

But it was.

Junelezen2026 - Day 21 - Technology

I have seen many a strange place over the years but this... It is perhaps the strangest, more out of place city-state I have ever witnessed... I feel so out of place.

This Solution Nine... It doesn't feel real, from their food to their attire and the regulators. Admittedly I dislike it. Garlean technology was already a little much for my taste in it's dark and drab design but here everything is bright and loud. It's overwhelming and intrusive...

The food came in a little bag... It was barely palatable mush.

Admittedly I have never missed Ishgard's architecture more than in this place. The only positives I have encountered is that everything seems temperature controlled and navigation is not to difficult based on the layout.

Junelezen2026 - Day 17 - Comedy

"This is annoying." "I know love..." "Do we have to stay long?" "I suppose we could slip out."

Their conversation was hushed. The couple, dressed in formal garments, lingered on the fringes of the party, avoiding the gossip and petty comparisons that was a rampant part of any noble Ishgardian event. They had only shown up to represent his family as his father was recovering from illness, his eldest brother was away on vacation, and the second eldest was unwelcomed due to his past behavior. That left Tsirae.

It had taken a little bit of convincing to get Rheyla to join him, plus a few promises to her benefit, and because it was for his father, whom adored her immensely like his own daughter. Even so, they had barely been there a couple hours and the Knight could see her fidgeting and a little agitated by the overwhelming event. When her comments started, he knew at that point they had reached the limit of composed patience. It had been enough time, they had shown their faces, talked politely and danced a little. The Lord's household had been represented and no one could blame them for departing, if it was even noticed. "Come with me."

Taking her hand gently, Tsirae led them down decorative halls and through a large set of ornate wooden doors. The cold air hit their faces from the moment the doors open, but it was rejuvenating instead of unpleasant. The smell of perfume and food quickly whisked away to a fresh breath, small flakes of snow falling as they reached the balcony, heavy doors closing behind them. Silence and room to breath.

Then laughter.

Placing his hands at her waist, Tsirae gently lifted her onto the stone railing to sit and get off her feet. "I hope that is the last time for a while..." Giving a short huff as his breath formed a little cloud in the cold. "It better be... I've never seen so much audacity in one room..." Rheyla held a cheeky little smirk, leaning forward slightly to rest her arms around his neck. "I thought that one lady was going to get stuck in the door... Her dress was absurdly large..." Laughing softly as she finally relaxed, now able to simply be herself. "I admit it's comedic... How they can even enjoy themselves or dance is questionable..." Giving an amused smile as he rested his hands on either side of Rheyla to ensure she remained steady on the railing. "The one gentleman, with the large red feather was, in particular, making an over the top effort to stand out... It reminds me of a Chocobo flaunting himself to attract a mate." The mental image got a little giggle snort from Rheyla as she fiddled with his hair, taking out the braid to leave the raven strands loose about his shoulders and back. "Well I admit I was at least entertained by it. Watching them try to outdo each other constantly to the point of absurdity."

For the pair who had no interest in the politics and social battleground of such gatherings, it was like watching a comedy play, where the characters were over exaggerated and satirical. "So. Home then? And not here in Ishagrd. Our proper home in the Shroud. I'll make dinner... We can sit and read, you can sleep in as long as you want and no snow or ice to deal with in the morning." His smooth word would light up her face like a morning sunrise and Rheyla offered him an absolutely delighted smile.