wind on the plains

Tomorrow will be June 1st and Mayqo'te is coming to an end, but that won't be the end of our ffxiv miqos of course Enjoy the summer season and many thanks @mayqote for organising and sharing all the kitty cats, too!

The braziers burned, painting a row of flickering shadows on the resistance's infirmary walls. Too weak to heat up these wide halls against the encroaching night. Cold air caressed my bare skin as I sat on the edge of my cot. Scratches all over my arms, my hands, where I had caught myself falling. Scraped skin on my back. In pain, but still alive. It wasn’t that I was unfamiliar with the sounds of an overcrowded infirmary. What I was unfamiliar with was the guilt. The shame. And the burning feeling of humiliation I couldn't shake off. He had been here for me, first and foremost. Despite having no allegiance to the resistance, I felt deeply responsible for subjecting them to this unmitigated, collateral damage. Too mildly put. It killed them. They were not aware of what had caused him to act. Though if they had been, I was certain they would not have let the opportunity pass to dispose of me earlier. When I lay sprawled in the dirt, disarmed and overwhelmed by the unbridled force the crown prince had shown to wield against me. My fingers wandered over my chest, a calming motion to keep me grounded while my brain sunk into aimless thoughts. If I could have won, if I hadn’t hesitated to fight. I was a well-trained soldier, I was strong. These facts did nothing to convince me. And I hated that.

to the boundless skies of our star whom I have long since viewed familiar the silent mysteries of the night sky held my thoughts now I'm here amidst them all all alone

No, no, it's not a glamour, it's completely real. Not face paint either, an actual tattoo. Not much of a tale behind it, unless you count "young and impulsive" as one. Sixteen summers, to be precise. We were a team, we all wanted to belong. None of them are in my life anymore, but still, after all this time, I've never regretted it once.

"Wait. Please, stay a moment longer." When I reopened my eyes at her behest, it was just us. The real Minfilia shimmered in the everpresent light, translucent and angelic. Even knowing we didn't have much time left, I couldn’t bring myself to speak first. "I'm grateful for the chance to see you again." A sigh escaped her lips. "Ever since I sensed you reaching the First." Did she know? How much had she seen? Recent times had been filled with nothing but frustration and misunderstandings. Among fighting back the encroaching Sin Eaters, the growing divide between the Scions and myself had led to a lot of negative emotions being taken out on each other. "There's something I have to ascertain first," Minfilia continued. "You've learned what Hydaelyn truly is at her core, did you not?" Down in the ruins of Qitana, shortly after defeating the forest's resident lightwarden. The Echo had near taken me out of consciousness, all to reveal itself within a barely comprehensible string of apocalyptical visions. Y'shtola had not only managed to help me keep the ensuing nausea under control, but also pieced together the bits of knowledge I grasped into a whole. "I don't feel any different, knowing about it," I answered. "If anything, it's the last bit of sanity I can safely cling to these days." "We know." Her striking blue eyes and voice filled with compassion. "I'm not angry. At you, that is." I averted my eyes, a sting in my chest. "But you know all this has been outright terrifying me. You know what and who is at stake. Regardless of what some might claim we will prevent by our actions here, I cannot know for certain." "Speaking as Minfilia, I don't know more than you either. But it's plain to see your exhaustion, bearing more than you should." She stepped down on the crystalline, light-drenched floor, facing me no longer as a divine entity, but a woman who had experienced similar predicaments as I had. "Will you allow me to grant you one last favor?" I felt the warmth of her light on me. Natural and encompassing, yet mild, all unlike the sharp coldness with which the lightwardens' aether would claw into my body each time. As our last parting words at the edge of the lifestream, Minfilia whispered to me what would become the reason I survived. A heartbeat later I found myself back in Amh Araeng.

And all that remained of the self-proclaimed king was the true source of his borrowed might.

The blade weighed in my hand; strong, but not heavy. Though it measured but half the length of the legatus' own, should I learn to wield it alike, we were destined to become a force to be reckoned with. I closed my fingers firmly around the hilt And I thought: Is there anything more poetic than the unity forged between a soldier's hand and their weapon? That was then and now is unchanged. Countless times has it protected me. Never shall I lay down this blade for another.

Mayqo'te Day 18: (Favorite) Weapon

We don't normally get this much time off, even after our most physically and mentally demanding tasks. But I think Rhitahtyn saw I needed more than just the 'short respite' I said I would. I didn’t even get out of my clothes completely. Looks like he was right.

After our initial reception, Hien requested to talk to me alone. We settled for the renovated pavilion overlooking the enclave's main plaza. "As far as we can tell, she doesn't remember anything," he explained the situation surrounding Yotsuyu. Tsuyu. Hien had decided to keep her in custody, undercover, albeit worried about the Domans' reaction if he were to make it publicly known. "Would it change if she did?" I asked. "Then surely her hatred for Doma would return, don't you think?" Hien pondered. "And my people would no doubt call for her execution." "The Ala Mhigan Resistance currently keeps most former soldiers as prisoners of war. Garleans or otherwise alike. Despite some voices loudly clamoring for their execution as well." "You know, I was surprised to learn you weren't drafted," Hien suddenly changed topics, "that you willingly joined the XIVth legion. I've heard you had, how should I say, quite the personal connection with your legion's leadership. Your legatus included." "I did." My gaze wandered over to the people crossing the plaza beneath us. "And still have." "Did you ever feel any remorse for following your orders?" "At the time, no. Now, I can hardly tell anymore." I sighed. "But I do remember what I did, if that's the question." "So Yotsuyu might..." Hien sunk back into his thoughts. "Hien, do you think you should execute her? You already attempted it once. On the other side, the Ala Mhigans have yet to even propose taking me prisoner." "Because you helped them win their freedom," he responded. "Because people like Raubahn know when to compromise."

It's been a while since I was dragged over to the First. Involuntarily and with no way back, as of now. Yesterday, we returned from Holminster Switch. Today, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I didn't recognize myself anymore. Not because I've changed physically or because my hair grew out. Because I don't see who they see in me. The Exarch most of all. I still think about what happened at Ghimlyt almost daily. I shouldn't be here.