If there be light, then there is darkness
Second Astral Moon 7th Sun
The jewel in the desert is not what I would call Ul’dah. For a jewel is colorful, vibrant, and when held in the light shows you thousands of colors. Ul’dah may have resembled a jewel once but now it is more of fragments of once with eager hands ready to strip her of her glory and sell her to the highest bidder. Often I write my distaste for the city but it is a hub for so many. It is within the very city that I have made so many of my friends as well. I would of never met Ser Hilde or Khojin if I hadn’t sucked it up and went to the vile establishment known as the Quicksand.
I was trying to decide whether I travel to the Quicksand or take a stroll to the Gold Court where I often run into Khojin. As luck would have it I did run into her. A good thing at that since I wanted to get the incident of Ser Hilde off my chest with her and how I feel as if she humiliated me. But the Twelve decided that such a talk could wait as I made a new friend while talking with her. I met Cerelaut Levesque who is familiar with Khojin (not a surprise since Kho knows all Elezen) and was a kind older gentleman. Cerelaut seemed kind enough although when I began to document our discussion and talk about his personal life he was not as forth coming. Understable truly since Ul’dah has so many eyes and ears to it. He did happen to agree to speak with me in a more private location and Khojin couple accompany us to hear about his life.
It was during our discussion about an adventure together that another Elezen male approached us named Faulkner Agrios. The man with an aetheric scar on his face with a real one to boot and hair that reached far down to his waist. It wasn’t long before I discovered that he is the caretaker to the place where Khojin wears her silly maid outfit. Even thinking about it now I had to take a small break to write this because it brings me unbelievable great joy to see her in that outfit. You’ll pardon the tear stains on the paper as I had another uncontrollable fit of laughter at the vision.
When I prodded Avellino for more information of his past it was suggested that we all visit the place where Ser Faulkner and Khojin work. That way we were not interrupted and no strangers could eavesdrop on our conversation. It was during our trip there that I noticed the complexity of Khojin’s tail. I tried to examine it and grab it but she got rather upset that I touched it. So upset her face burst into a deep crimson before storming off. I must try this on Miqo’te to see if it has the same effect.
The house was decorated with much greenery and I must say that I thoroughly enjoy any home that has so much life to it. It reminds me of the Shroud and my suns spent in the cave as a child surrounded by various plant life. What impressed me more than anything in the estate was the library. Oh the wealth of knowledge that is in their possession made me day dream. So many books lined against the walls! All I wanted to do was spend the next cycle sitting on the floor and reading everything that they could possibly have! It was in that same library though that I saw something that gave me quite a scare. A hand. A hand that had a mind of its own and was walking around in the shelves!
This hand even was neatly decorated with a white glove and bow! How incredibly odd and wonderful is that! It was so familiar with Khojin it spent most of its time cuddling with her. If I ever do settle down and own a home I’ll be sure to ask Ser Faulkner on how to acquire a hand. Not a lalafell hand though as that would be extremely creepy and odd. I mean can you imagine an animated lalafell hand crawling around at night and resting on you while you slept?
Ah forgive me for going off on a tangent. I tend to do that with such fascinating things. I did learn somewhat of Ser Faulkner and Ser Cerelaut’s history. Something that I wish I had not come to know as it has changed my life entirely. Even now as I write these words I feel my body tremble in fear and anger knowing that I almost gave myself to the darkness of the Void. Ser Avellino was raised in a cult of the Void worshipping it with some followers. He claims he was born without the ability to hear and that an Elezen gave him an artifact to hear again. But I know the truth of the story as it has been told by my family for many years. The Void leaves you broken and beaten trying to drain the light from you till there is nothing left. In your weakest moment it offers you a ‘gift’ that will help you in some way. When you are at your weakest you cling on to anything for hope and this that is what Ser Faulkner did.
This is my first encounter with someone who is of the void and worships it so openly. I do not know if he has the ability to temper creatures as the Primals but the fact that he has so many that believe in him and trust him confirms that he does. Twelve above what can I possibly do to save them? Is it not my job as your devout follower to pull them from the darkness into the light? Is it even possible? Even if it were possible what can an amateur astrologian as myself do? I’ve spent the entire night praying within the Sanctum of the Twelve searching for answers in the heavens but have been given silence. If I cannot save them all can I at least save Khojin?
I always knew she had a small passing interest in learning of the void and I accepted that because I do as well. She wanted to understand the void and I did as well for my healing. But the fact that she has been tempered and is training with that voidkin destroyed any chance of hope for saving her. I cannot allow that darkness to tempt me with knowledge, power, and anything else it offers. For I know the moment it breaks me down and I am at my weakest it will offer me some solution. A solution that will pour into every vein in my body and snuff out what light I have till I become his soulless vessel as well. It is times like this I wish Elder Briodont was around to teach me more of the power of the Twelve. I need that power right now to rescue her or at least pull her away from it all to find out if there is a way to rescue her.
As much as it pains me to do, I must put my travels on hold till I can figure this out. There must be some research on how to save all those poor souls from his dark hold on them. There just has to be. But if there isn’t I know what I have to do. I cannot allow them to remain as vessels for his dark purpose. A mercy killing of their physical forms so that they may find peace when they return to Hydaelyn. Gods will I even have that sort of courage?
