#felixient

“Are you certain, Inquisitor? You’ve only recently returned from a lengthy pilgrimage” the man said, pale eyes behind glasses staring at Felixient, almost…analysing him.

“I am certain, sir” Felixient replied, staring back at the other man. “We both know with the Dragonsong War ended, and we no longer being enemies with the Dravanians, there is little work for the Inquisition. Not to forget that on top of that things are…difficult for us at the moment.”

“And you leaving would make things easier?” the other man asked.

“Same as when I was on pilgrimage, it will be an…extended leave of absence, or even a secondment to the Temple Knights if you so wish. Either way you need not pay a salary for me” Felixient explained.

The other man shifted, and leaned forward, those eyes boring into Felixient. “Did your pilgrimage not give you any answers, or answers to the questions you sought?” He asked, seemingly changing the question. Felixient looked away pain and guilt briefly etched onto his face, both replaced by anger before his expression settled on a blank expression.

“I found answers” he slowly replied “Not the ones I left to seek, but ones answering a question I’ve long asked for months…”

“But the answer held little comfort to you?” the man asked.

“Well let’s just say I wish that this particular answer had died” he replied bitterly.

“And so you wish to just flee from this answer? From this uncomfortable truth that has you rattled so?”

Felix clenched his fists, teeth grinding together. “I wish to do something” he said, struggling to keep his voice level. “I could just sit listless in Ishgard, with next to no cases to work on, feeling sorry for myself, or I could go out in Gyr Abania and help. I have skills that would be of assistance out there, I am good at the healing arts, and it will be inevitable that there will be enemies that need to be questioned and interrogated. My entire career has been about getting answers from our enemies and if I can use those abilities to assist our allies, then I wish to do so”

The other man sat back, a small smile gracing his features, seemingly satisfied with Felixient’s answer. “Very well Inquisitor, you seem to have your mind set and you are the type of person who would go anyway, even without my permission. I’ll speak with the Temple Knights later today and see if I can get you attached to one of their squads, though you may wish to start packing now, the next group headed to Castrum Oriens will be leaving within the next couple of days”

“You have my thanks” Felixient replied, breathing a sigh of relief, and not wanting to admit that his superior was correct, in a way. He was using Gyr Abania to run away.

“How long do you reckon you’ll be gone?” the young elezen asked, as he fetched a bundle of clothes from Felixient’s wardrobe.

“It’s difficult to say” Felixient replied “So far the Garleans have not made an attempt to reclaim Baelsar’s Wall and Castrum Oriens, though the whole clusterfuck that was the Griffin’s attack on the wall along with the primal and that Allagan abomination was rather recent, they’ve probably not had the time to assemble forces to retake it, most likely having lost most of their forces in the area”

“So you don’t know?” the young elezen asked.

“I’m afraid not Ivaurault” Felixient said, shaking his head and taking the clothes from him and packed them into his bag. “Could be sennights, could be moons. Years even”

“Well if that’s the case, then I’m surprised you’re lettin’ me stay here, with no supervision” Ivaurualt said, looking up at his elder brother.

“You’re not, I’ve booked you passage on an airship to Limsa Lominsa, it leaves a couple of bells before I do” Felixient said, looking up at Ivaurault “That way I will be certain that you will be well on your way to there. Quentenain will be looking out for you and Butternut while I’m away”

“Why not Ursa? She normally looks after me when you’ve gotta be away for ages”

“Her squad has been assigned to fight in Gyr Abania” Felixient explained.

“Oh”

His bag packed, Felixient dropped it onto the floor and looked over to the box on his desk, Butternut, his pumpkin mandragora standing next to it. A flurry of emotions swirled through him as he looked at the box.

“Still want me to deliver it?” Ivaurault asked, when he saw his brother look over at the box.

“Just shove it onto a delivery moogle, they’ll get it to him…it…sooner or later” Felixient said, his voice hardening.

“Got everything in it?” Ivaurualt asked.

“No” Felixient said, his voice hard and cold as he handed over a small coin purse to his brother. “I’ll need a knife, nothing fancy, nothing expensive, just a knife”

“You reckon he’ll understand the meaning behind it?”

“Probably not, and it’s not like I really care either, it’s important to me, and that’s all I care about”

“Brrr, cold. I like it” Ivaurault said, beckoning to Butternut to follow him and dashed off to the markets, the pumpkin mandragora in tow.

As his brother left, Felixient looked into the box one more time, to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything, he’d rather not have to send another package to Kugane. He just wanted all loose ends gathered up and severed.

A handful of dried, dead Dravanian wildflowers were scattered in there, ones that he had found over the months following his ex-lover’s disappearance, or at least ones he had found prior to today. Any others he’d find would be tossed into the fire. A pair of machalite earrings were also in there, he had worn them near constantly when he wasn’t working since he had first received them, from a Starlight celebration that now felt like a lifetime ago. He had no use for them now. A small box bearing the mark of an Ul’dahn goldsmith. He didn’t open it, already knowing what was in it, he had spent a long time looking and agonising over the rings there, haggling the shopkeep for a better price. Lastly there was one of his spare glass eyes, the red iris just staring blankly out at him. He knew (or thought he knew) his ex-lover well, his glass eyes always terrified him, it, and he recalled the many times he had used that to his advantage, to tease and play. This time there was no teasing or playful intentions, he had it in there purely out of malice.

Satisfied that he had not forgotten anything, barring the knife that should surely be heading his way by now, he pondered about writing a letter or a note, starting several but finishing none, bar one.

“Sorry it took me so long, needed t’make a detour” Ivaurualt announced as he burst into the room, voice muffled by whatever foodstuff the young elezen had skived from the kitchens and shoved into his mouth, the familiar pitter patter of Butternut’s footsteps following close behind.

“Bring it here Ivaurualt” Felixient requested, as he folded the paper his note was on in half and dropped it into the box, a gil coin following it.

Ivaurault wordlessly handed the knife over to his brother, who quickly examined it. Plain, nothing out of the ordinary, a few nicks on the handle and sheath, and as he unsheathed the blade, noted a few scratches on it as well. “Second-hand?” he asked raising an eyebrow.

Ivaurault shrugged “Was cheaper, Fury the guy practically gave it to me for free when I told him what it was bein’ used for” he said as he snooped through the discarded letters and notes. “Wow, some of these are brutal”

“You told people?” Felixient asked, voice laced with irritation.

“Not the whole story, just said you needed t’tell someone that you wanted t’cut ties with ‘em and that was that. Why? You not gonna tell people what happened? What will you tell them, I mean people are still askin’ if you’ve found him”

“I’ll tell them it’s dead” Felixient bluntly replied. “Easier to explain that way.”

“And easier for you to handle” Ivaurault mumbled.

“Yes” Felixient said, not even bothering to hide or lie about his intentions.

“We all cope in our own ways” Ivaurault said, shrugging. “Even if it ain’t the most healthy way of doing so”

“Indeed we do” Felixient replied, as he dropped the knife into the box, then sealed it up. “Indeed we do”

“You runnin’ away from somethin’ Inquisitor?” one of the knights, a hyuran woman, asked.

“What makes you think that?” Felixient asked, looking over at her.

“You volunteered to come here, you weren’t one of the squads or units assigned here, you asked to be here, in this Fury-forsaken hellshole”

“I’m running away from irrelevance and pending redundancy” Felixient lied.

“Well with the war ‘gainst the Dravanians over, a lotta people are questionin’ if we even need an Inquisition these days” the knight mused.

“And I aim to prove that we’re still useful, otherwise the streets would be littered with people whose only job skills contain torturing” Felixient said, a hint of humour in his voice.

The knight simply shook her head at the humour and looked over at the landscape, the forest giving out to a rocky, desert landscape so strange and alien to the Ishgardians. “I kinda hope someone managed t’smuggle ice crystals here, otherwise I’m gonna be roastin’ in me armour”

Felixient chuckled “That would be a disaster, having all the Ishgardian support roast ere we see any real fighting.”

“Aye, that it would be”

“Is that all, kupo?” the mail moogle of Limsa Lominsa asked, looking over the package Ivaurualt carried.

“Aye, that’s it, just the one, but you gotta be careful, we don’t want anythin’ broke on the way, it’s all gotta make it to Ul’dah intact!” the young elezen insisted.

“Understood, kupo! We shall treat it with the utmost care!”

“Good, ‘cause yeah would be a disaster of some of the contents broke on the way” Ivaurault said “Oh shite, hang on a moment, lemme just quickly check somethin’ in there” he cursed, opening up the package and rummaging through it for the note. He unfolded it, a smirk gracing his face as he read. “Not so brutal as the others, but anyone who gets the gift will get the note. Brother, you magnificent bastard”

The young elezen hastily shoved the letter back into the package, sealing it back up and handing it over to the moogle, practically skipping along the streets of Limsa Lominsa, Butternut closely pattering behind him.

Don’t pay me back.

If losing Ursielle was one of the worst events and pains Felixient had endured since losing his mother and Vielle nine years ago, then having to notify Quentenain and Ivaurault of her death was the second worst event. He dearly wished to have been there in person, to have held them as the pair finally understood the terrible news, and to be there so that the trio could comfort each other, as they had done so nine years past when they lost their mother and their youngest sister. He could hear Quentenain barely able to keep himself together, as Felixient also struggled to keep himself together as he relayed to Quentenain when Ursielle’s remains were to arrive in Ul’dah and who to speak to about claiming them. He promised to make arrangements on the Ishgardian side, and the transportation details. It was all he could do to distract himself from her death, to do something lest he himself succumb to despair.

The Alliance and Resistance forces were only given a couple of days to find survivors, patch up the injured, and mourn their dead. Ala Mhigans and Garleans were buried in Gyr Abania, while Alliance soldiers were repatriated to their Grand Company’s city states. Felixient stood by Charlemend and Eilis as the trio watched over the coffins of the rest of their squad, Felixient offering prayers to Halone, beseeching the Fury to accept their fallen brethren into Her Halls.

“Wish I could stay on an’ finish the fight. Kick those Garlean bastards for what they did” Eilis said, soon after Felixient finished. “Hate that I’m gettin’ sent back”

Through the Fury’s grace, the skills of the chirurgeons, and sheer luck, the hyuran woman had managed to live, but had deemed too wounded to continue to fight in Gyr Abania and was being sent back to Ishgard with the dead and other wounded. Charlemend was upset at having none of his squad in Gyr Abania, yet he was still relieved that Eilis also did not perish on that hellish day.

“As am I. Would it that you and Solelle could return and fight, yet the chirurgeons have their orders. Leaving just the two of us. It will be awfully lonely” Charlemend agreed. “And I wish greatly to be able to notify Ursulin and Janremi’s families of their deaths myself, yet I must remain here. I would assume that Felixient and myself will be absorbed into another squad who have incurred heavy casualties as well”

“I wish you could take my sister to Ishgard, but the Flames have their protocols and she’s needed to go to Ul’dah first. My brothers are en route now to collect her, and I’ve made arrangements in Ishgard for her” Felixient explained, voice low as he tried to keep it steady.

“I’ll be there to receive them, an’ help ‘em out” Eilis offered.

“You needn’t burden yourself-”  Felixient started, before Eilis cut him off.

“Look, you may have started out in our squad as a stranger, but you’re one of us now, and I’d do this for anyone else. You can’t be there for your brothers, but I can at least be there, I can help out with everything in Ishgard” She insisted.

“I-” Felixient started up in protest again, before bowing his head and shaking it slightly. “You have my thanks. A friendly, and in Ivaurault’s case a familiar face, would not go unneeded for my brothers.”

“With everythin’ you’ve done for our squad, it’s the least I can do. I’ll see that your brothers are able to bury your sister, you’ve my word” Eilis promised, “An’ don’t try an’ pay me back or nothin’, we fought side by side for moons now, as far as I care, you’re one of us, even if you’re a terrifyin’ terror of an inquisitor”

“Not that it will stop me from trying once I am done here” Felixient replied, a small, yet empty smile tugging at the sides of his mouth.

“Buy me a drink at the Forgotten Knight an’ I ‘ll call it even. No more’n that”

Charlemend watched the exchange, his expression level yet within feeling nothing but concern and grief for Felixient. He was putting on a good front, yes, but there was still a deeply (understandable) powerful pain and grief which the Inquisitor was hiding from Eilis. Charlemend did not blame him, Eilis was guilty enough that she had survived Specula Imperatoris, even Charlemend himself felt that selfsame grief, yet on top of all that Eilis was being sent back home. The war for her was over, for now, and she was forced to leave behind to men that she knew and trusted, and who needed their comrades and allies now more than ever.

Once everything was loaded and the carriages sent away, the knight and the inquisitor made their way away from the main host, the pair just standing and watching the landscape. Charlemend knew things would be incredibly difficult for Felixient, it was hard enough for himself to give his final farewells to his squadmates, the heartbreak over losing his friends already agonising enough, but to be farewelling a sibling and being unable to be there as they were laid to rest? Charlemend was unable to imagine the pain Felixient was in but resolved to be there for him until the end. And maybe then some.

“Felixient, are you in need of anything? You need only ask, I’m here until we see this out” he said.

He tried vainly to not notice the shaking of Felixient’s shoulders, as silent sobs wracked his body. He tried to not notice the tears that fell, no longer hiding and being contained while Eilis was around, Charlemend guessed that Felixient did not want Eilis to worry or feel more guilty about being sent back than she already did.

Felixient let out a contented groan as he left the inn he had been sequestered in since the Alliance reclaimed Ala Ghiri. A bad bout of food poisoning had laid him out and it was only now he was well enough to be out an about. A few friendly greetings and shouts were delivered his way, from Alliance, Resistance and Ala Mhigan civilians alike, the locals being more than happy to help out with food and medicine for injured and ill Alliance and Resistance fighters, eager to repay their liberators.

He noted the lack of fighters around considering the time and location, and wandering about the aetheryte plaza, he spied a pair of Ishgardians and approached them, the pair giving him a brief wave as he approached.

“Afternoon Inquisitor, you’re looking better today” one of them called out.

“I’m feeling a lot better now, still not entirely recovered, but I no longer feel like death warmed up” Felixient replied as he reached the pair.

“Aye, a few have been affected by food poisoning, probably a bad batch of food that managed to escape notice, though thankfully not too many have been affected, and it’s not proven to be fatal so far, thank the Fury” the other said.

“Speaking of others, our numbers here are rather…sparse, would you think not?” Felixient ventured.

“Ah, you have been out of it for a while Inquisitor” one of the Ishgardians said. “There’s an operation going on at this moment, Ala Ghiri is too far to hear the fighting, but the Alliance and the Resistance are currently attempting to take Specula Imperatoris from the Garleans”

“Already?” Felixient asked, surprised written across his voice and features.

“Aye, with how easy it was to take Ala Ghiri the Alliance, after some careful planning of course, decided to press on to Specula Imperatoris” the other Ishgardian explained “Mind you with how the Garleans have been lately, I don’t expect them to put too much of a fight up for it”

“I see” Felixient mused, “is Ser Charlemend’s squad still here?”

“Nay Inquisitor, despite losing Etgar at Operation Rhalgr’s Beacon and Ser Solelle being too injured to fight on, and with you down with your illness, his squad was still assigned to fight” an Ishgardian explained.

“I guess it shows even the leadership isn’t too concerned with the Garleans putting up much of a fight” the other said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Hmmm, maybe” Felixient said. “In either way I shall leave you two be” he finished, giving a small wave before setting off towards where the Alliance and Resistance had made their headquarters in the town.

As he neared the area, he spied one of the Immortal Flames, a woman he knew of in passing from Ul’dah and began to approach her.

“Sergeant Bull” he called out as he neared the roegadyn woman, “I hadn’t known you were also in Gyr Abania”

The roegadyn turned and cast an appraising stare at Felixient. “Shite, it’s uh, what’s-his-name, Ursa’s big brother” she replied, struggling to remember Felixient’s name. “I only just got here myself, one of the replacements for those killed or too badly injured after Rhalgr’s Beacon” she explained. “What brings you here?”

“I see,” Felixient said, offering her his warmest smile. “I was just wondering where Ursa was, I understand there is currently an operation to take Specula Imperatoris from the Empire”

“Yeah, I guess the Alliance and the Resistance have figured that they’ve got a good momentum going and so have pressed on to take the place, would be real boon for our side when we grab it” Sergeant Bull explained.

“I take it my sister’s unit is there currently?” Felixient asked “I know my squad is up there now, despite being down three of their number and no replacements yet.

“Aye, Ursa’s been assigned to there, she seemed pretty eager to go as well, a lot of people have. Guess they’re all on a high after so many successes or something” the roegadyn explained.

Felixient chuckled and shook his head. “And here I was under the impression all my life that Ursa was the responsible one in our family” he replied, “I guess even now my dear little sister can surprise me.”

“Heh, siblings can surprise us in varying ways” the roegadyn agreed, giving a small chuckle of her own.

“Do you-” Felixient started before he was cut off by a resounding boom, as if a cannon had gone off and hit something large. All around, people in Ala Ghiri began panicking, Alliance and Resistance forces attempting to calm them down, despite being spooked themselves.

“What in the hells was that?” Felixient asked, “are there any cannons being used by our side at Specula Imperatoris?”

“Buggered if I know” the roegadyn replied “but that must be one bloody big cannon and explosion to be heard from here”

“I-it must have been Castrum Abania” one of the Resistance fighters ventured. “It has a large cannon, I suppose it’s there in case of an air attack or some such, big targets” he explained.

“The Alliance didn’t bring any airships though” Sergeant Bull said, “and we’re too far out from Castrum Abania, not unless…”

“Oh Fury” Felixient replied, his voice going soft as he was filled with dread, a sick feeling gnawing at his stomach “the target was Specula Imperatoris”

“Wait, you can’t be swiving serious, are you certain?” the roegadyn asked, “hey wait! Where are you going?”

Felixient didn’t bother to answer as he ran towards Specula Imperatoris, skirting around long-ruined buildings and hostile wildlife, ignoring his own body screaming in protest as he pushed himself farther than he should, especially after being bedridden with illness. But he didn’t care, he pushed himself, ignoring his own body as lungs and legs screamed in protest, hearing only the wind rushing in his ears and the heart pounding in his chest as he prayed to Halone that his sister, Ursielle was safe.

As he approached the Imperial installation, he could smell smoke and other less than savoury smells, and he could hear the shouts of survivors and the creaks and groans of metal threatening to fall over. He pushed open the gateway, pushing with all his might against the great, heavy door, just making enough room for him to squeeze through.

The scene before him was eerily similar to sights in Ishgard and Coerthas after dragon attacks, ruined buildings and ash strewn people, survivors looking around them with that thousand-malm stare, trying to comprehend what had happened. Bodies of the dead and dying simply laying where they fell, surviving chirurgeons and soldiers trying to do what they could to save the lucky. In these few moments, all were brought together to try and find survivors and recover the dead, Alliance, Resistance, even a tiny few Imperials, all searching through the rubble, hoping and mourning.

Felixient stood there, dumbfounded for several moments, only snapping out of it when he saw someone in the Immortal Flames uniform lying facedown on the ground. He approached them, and seeing that they were not Ursielle, he moved on, hurrying to try and find his younger sister. Many others tried to call out to him, but he simply ignored them, as he searched among the dead and dying and the rubble, trying to see if she was somehow buried.

Finally, after what felt like a lifetime of searching, he reached the central courtyard of the installation he spied a flash of familiar red hair and bolted towards it. “Ursa!” he called out as he approached her, partially buried underneath some rubble and unresponsive, her gold eyes staring out, yet unseeing. “Oh Halone Ursa please speak, please respond!” he begged as he reached his sister, falling to his knees and trying to shift the rubble off her. “Answer me, please. I’m here, your big brother’s here, please just talk to me, you’re ok now, you’re going to be ok now” he continued, tears spilling down as the realisation hit him like a punch to the gut and a single, raw scream of anguish filled Specula Imperatoris and beyond.

---

When he awoke, he felt as though he had been trampled by Vishap himself, not just physically, but emotionally. He felt utterly exhausted, struggling to even open his eyes, though was greeted by the sight of Ser Charlemend when he did so, the man looking so utterly defeated, and as though he too had been trampled by Vishap.

“Ye look like shite” Felixient croaked, so exhausted that his Brume accent was slipping through, and not even caring that it was”

“You’re one to talk” Charlemend replied, sounding as bad as he looked, “how are you holding up?”

The realisation of the events earlier hit him as he recalled what he had seen, who he had found, broken and unresponsive under the rubble of Specula Imperatoris. His face twisted into a grimace as tears welled up. He reached up with his arm to try and wipe some of them away, though was too exhausted and grief stricken to do so, instead just covering his eyes with his arm as his body shook with silent sobs.

“Yeah, it’s been that kinda of day” Charlemend replied despondently. “Do you…remember much else?” he softly asked. Felixient shook his head.

“Just remember findin’ her, then nothin’, just wakin’ up here”

“I see” Charlemend replied. “Well get some rest, I think we all can do with it. No one’s really doing much for now, just counting our losses and asking if capturing Specula Imperatoris was really worth it”

“What happened after…after I…” Felixient began to ask, trailing off as the subject of Ursielle came up.

“You really want to know?” Charlemend asked, giving a sigh when Felixient wordlessly nodded. “We had to have a sleep spell used on you, so we could get to yourself…and your sister. You lashed out at anyone who came close to either of you. I believe at last count it was seven broken noses, three broken hands or wrists and a broken arm” he explained.

“I see” Felixient murmured, voice on the edge of breaking.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes, Charlemend finally standing up, unsure of what else to say “I should probably get going” he said, only stopping when Felixient’s spare hand grasped at the edge of his shirt.

“Please, stay” he begged, “I don’t want to be alone right now”

Charlemend could almost feel himself break at the other elezen’s word, his tone full of pain and grief, so lost and broken. He sat back down and took Felixient’s hand into his, to comfort and reassure, that yes, he was still there.

“How many?” Felixient croaked out. “How many made it?”

“Out of the Alliance and the Resistance?” Charlemend asked.

Felixient shook his head “Yer squad…our squad”

“It’s just you, me and Eilis” Charlemend replied, his voice low and heavy “And Eilis might no make it, chirurgeons are still working on her”

“Do ye wanna…” he started to ask, trailing off unwilling to finish the question.

“I’d be in their way, and there’s naught else I can do but wait, and pray to the Fury” he explained, shaking his head. “’sides, I’m needed here for now, where I can make some difference”

News of Doma’s liberation had reached Gyr Abania before the Warrior of Light returned, emboldening the Resistance and Alliance alike, and giving a much-needed boost in confidence and morale. While there had been several smaller victories for the Resistance, Krile’s capture by the Skulls had been a blow to the morale of all opposing the Empire, so the news of Doma, as well as the return of the Warrior of Light, provided a great boost to all. The Warrior of Light was an enigma to Felixient, even though they had resided in the elezen’s home city for several months, yet Felixient cared little for the Warrior, not bothering to really confirm what race or age or gender the warrior was.

While he was grateful to the Warrior for finally bringing and end to the Dragonsong War, he couldn’t help but feel some resentment, the Warrior had dug up truths and brought an alliance of man and dragon together, mending a thousand-year old rift twixt the two races. Yet in doing so their actions had brought great uncertainty and upheaval to the Inquisition in particular, all of a sudden, most of what had long agreed to be heretical and against Ishgardian and Halonic law was now no longer, and reignited debates over the position of the Inquisition and whether such an institution was needed in the first place. The Inquisition was forced to shed some of its number, and Felixient was left in the unenviable position of worrying about whether he’d still have a stable job and future, whether he’d still have a job if he survived Gyr Abania and returned to Ishgard.

“Gil for your thoughts?” a familiar voice called out, startling Felixient and scattering his thoughts. He looked over to who had startled him so, shaking his had at the shite-eating grin Ursielle bore as she walked over.

“Just thinking about my future, is all” he said as he recomposed himself.

“Future? Romantically or…” Ursielle asked.

“Romantically, there’s nothing for the foreseeable future” Felixient stated, shrugging his shoulders.

“Oh really? That lady Temple Knight in your squad seems to have taken a liking to you. Eilis her name was?” Ursielle teased, her grin growing wider as Felixient groaned.

“Please do not talk to me about her. She’s a nice enough lady I just…there’s nothing I feel towards her other than the camaraderie of being together in the same squad” he replied, shaking his head.

“Ahhhh, Felixient my dear brother, I never imagined that you would be the one to pull in the ladies and set them up for heartbreak. Quentenain was the one I thought more likely to do so” she snickered, enjoying teasing her brother as he buried his face in his hands.

“We both know Quentenain’s flirtatiousness is mostly accidental on his part, and besides Ser Eilis and I are merely acquaintances, we may perhaps even become friends if time permits” he replied, hands muffling his voice. “You’re reading too much into things. That and she is far too young for my liking”

“Sure, sure, whatever you insist dear brother” Ursielle teased. “Though if not romance that’s bothering you, what is? Worried about Ivaurault?”

“I will always worry over Ivaurault, but him being him, no news is good news. No what’s got me concerned is…work, and whether or not there’ll even be an Inquisition for me to work for in the far future or if I’ll even be employed by them in the near future” he admitted sigh a sigh.

“Ah. Yeah, I can see why you’re worried, you don’t exactly have skills that can carry over into other career paths, unless you pursue work as a chirurgeon” Ursielle replied, stifling a laugh at her brother’s expression. “Though you’re no stranger to combat, you could even permanently transfer to the Temple Knights if possible”

“Hmmm, you bring up a fine point there” Felixient murmured, though he did not sound too enthusiastic about the prospect.

“You don’t sound so happy about that…ahhh you’ll miss the prestige of being an Inquisitor, wouldn’t you? The respect…or fear” she stated.

“In a way, yes, not as many people are eager to cause trouble with Ivaurault given my occupation, as a knight some would not find that as…intimidating. Also, I have my own chambers and I need not to share them with anyone else. As a knight, I would not be afforded such a luxury” he admitted “I’d have nowhere to store the furnishings you and Quentenain have supplied me over the years, and I’d be reluctant to part with them”

“They’re just cheap, second hand furniture we found so you wouldn’t be living in an essentially an empty room” she said with a dismissive shrug. “We could always get you more once you get a permanent residence of your own”

“Mmm” Felixient went, not wanting to commit to an answer.

Before either could reply or add more to the conversation a horn sounded, and previously relaxed and chatting soldiers, knights and Resistance fighters grew tense, conversations and preparations grinding to a halt as they scattered and left to join their squadrons and comrades.

“It’s nearly time” Ursielle murmured “Well best of luck brother, may Halone guide us both”

“Indeed, and should either or both of us fall, we will meet again in Her halls” Felixient replied as he looked for his squad amongst the groups, finding them milling near a group of Twin Adders soldiers. With a curt nod towards his sister, he took his leave and rejoined his squad, losing sight of Ursielle as she passed through throngs of Maelstrom soldiers.

“All set, Inquisitor?” one of his squad mates asked him, Charlemend. Felixient knew little about the man, barring the fact that he was the younger son of a minor house connected to House Durendaire.

“Indeed I am Ser Charlemend, are yourself and the others all set?” Felixient replied

“Eilis, Solelle and Ursulin are all ready, just waiting on Janremi and Etgar” Charlemend answered, “oh speaking of, they’ve finally showed up, you ready you two?” he added, as a hyuran man and elezen man joined the group, earning stifled chuckles from most already in attendance.

“Yes ser” the hyur, Etgar mumbled, Janremi merely gave a nod.

“Good, the mission is about to start, and while we’re in support near the back, there’s no guarantee that the fighting won’t come to us, so be ready. I’d rather not have any near misses like with the convoy ambush we had while the Warrior of Light was in Doma” Charlemend stated.

“Yeah, we were lucky that the good Inquisitor was paranoid enough to keep his weapon out, and that he had the foresight to bring extra weapons on him” Ursulin said, grinning.

“Yes, lucky. But we should have been, and should be more wary and careful, or ‘paranoid’ as you described our Inquisitor attaché” Charlemend lectured. “We won’t be having him here permanently as well”

“Indeed, I will only be here until we liberate Ala Mhigo from her Imperial oppressors, or until we are pushed back into the Black Shroud, whichever happens first. Either way I expect to be recalled back to Ishgard” Felixient said an agreement. “I do hope that some of my paranoia rubs off on you, at least in terms of being prepared for the event of enemy ambushes”

Another horn sounded, signalling the Alliance to attack, and soon after the distant sounds of battle could be heard. Felixient and his squad stood alert, weapons at the ready in the event that the Garleans pushed back. Half a bell into the battle and the first injured fighters arrived, those capable of conjury in the support teams quickly offered enough healing to allow those injured to either get back into the fray, or to return to Castrum Oriens for further healing. Felixient wasn’t too fatigued from the effort at first, there being enough lulls between injured fighters being sent back for him to not wear himself too much, yet as the day and battle wore on, and more and more injured showed up and with the sounds of battle coming ever closer, he found himself beginning to tire.

“Ready yourselves” Charlemend warned, as those at the back could see retreating Alliance and Resistance fighters, Garleans soon following them. “It appears that the battle has come to us”

With wordless nods, the rest of the squad along with other Alliance and Resistance fighters readied themselves for the oncoming enemy, becoming the next line of defense and holding their position as injured Alliance and Resistance fighters took refuge behind them, trying to keep it as the Garleans bore down on them. Felixient remained to the back of his squad, healing their wounds and trying to keep them fighting for just that bit longer. With dismay he saw Etgar go down, a Garlean getting lucky and striking at his neck. No matter what he did, no amount of healing would save the hyur’s life. The hyur was swiftly avenged, Solelle striking down the Garlean, as she blocked an attack from another, who staggered backwards as he received a stone spell to the face and was then cut down by a Resistance fighter.

Onwards the battle raged, Eorzean striking down Garlean who struck down Eorzean in return, and despite their best efforts, the Alliance and Resistance fighters were being slowly pushed back. Felixient gritted his teeth as he dodged another attack by a Garlean and drove his own dagger into his opponent’s throat. He was too drained to continue healing and using offensive magics and with Charlemend ordering him to just simply attack, he swapped out his cane for his trusty daggers, his well-honed skill cutting down many a Garlean ere they realised that he was within stabbing distance of them. He suppressed a groan as yet another wave of Garleans bore upon them. Out the corner of his eye, he saw Solelle go down, a Garlean spear sticking out her side and Janremi knocking down the Garlean responsible, then finishing her off while she was laid out on the ground.

Just as the Alliance and Resistance forces were about to be overwhelmed, a horn sounded from Castellum Velodyna, all forces stopping their fighting in confusion. Through the trees Felixient (and many others) could see the Resistance flag hanging on the Castellum where the Garlean flag used to hang, the Alliance and Resistance fighters cheering in celebration of the Castellum finally being wrenched from Garlean hands, the Garlean soldiers themselves swiftly surrendering or running away, the few who dared to fight were quickly put down by the Eorzeans or Ala Mhigans. Felixient felt relieved and above all, excited. This was the biggest win for the Alliance and the Resistance to date, helping them gain a bigger foothold in the Fringes. Taking one last look up at the Resistance flag hanging proudly on the Castellum, Felixient turned around and started looking for his squad, hoping that Etgar and possibly Solelle were the only casualties.

---

While the aftermath of the battle for Castellum Velodyna was a time of celebration, the return to Castrum Oriens was a time for mourning. Very few groups and squads who participated in the battle did not lose a soldier in the fighting, and Felixient’s group was no exception. While Solelle’s wound was not fatal, and she was lucky enough to be close enough to the Castrum to receive proper healing and attention, Etgar was not so lucky, his wound most likely being instantly, or near instantly, fatal. The rest of the squad barring Solelle gathered around the hyur’s body, saying their last goodbyes before he was taken to be laid to rest in Ishgard.

“Inquisitor” Charlemend addressed, briefly looking over at Felixient before retuning his gaze to Etgar “Any words you would wish to share for our fallen comrade, Inquisitor?”

Felixient remained silent for a moment, initially unsure of what to say before he bowed his head. “O Halone,” he started “receive of us this man, Your humble servant. Rise him up to Your bosom and grant him glory everlasting”

The group remained silent for a moment as Felixient finished his prayer.

“Do you think She will accept him, Inquisitor?” Charlemend asked, finally breaking the silence and looking over to Felixient.

“I must to confess to not knowing him as well as I should have” the Inquisitor admitted “But with how he fought, She would be hard pressed to find a reason to not let him in”

Charlemend said nothing at first, simply giving a small smile. “He doubted if he would be worthy, being the son of a heretic, he had to fight tooth and nail to prove himself worthy of being a knight, and even then, it was only until the Republic was established that he was finally admitted”

“I see” Felixient mused, “I was never a big believer of the belief in the sins of the father being passed down to the son. I preferred to judge men and women by their own actions, and by what I saw of Etgar’s, he was not found wanting. May he rest by Halone’s side forevermore”

“Thank you, Inquisitor” Charlemend murmured “you’ve more belief in him than the rest of Ishgard ever did”

Felixient was tense, his cane out and eye scanning the trees around him. While East End was mostly under the control of the Alliance and the Resistance, they had no luxury to be complacent, Rhalgr’s Reach certainly taught everyone that lesson, and with his group working with others to bring some of the more badly injured people to Castrum Oriens from Rhalgr’s Reach, he could not afford to be complacent.

A shout from further ahead of the convoy attracted his attention and he readied his cane, looking around the others escorting the injured. “Get ready” he said, “I’d rather us be safe than sorry”

Just as he finished speaking, there was a flurry from the bushes around them, Skulls jumping out with their own weapons at the ready. Drawing from earth-aspected aether, Felixient quickly created a large chunk of stone, directing it to one of the Skulls, sending the man sprawling before he could cut down one of the Alliance escorts, her own weapon half drawn.

“O Halone, render upon us Your judgement!” he called out as he drew on the aether again, “Raise up the righteous,” he continued as he hurled another large stone, larger than the previous, aiming it at the legs of one of the Skulls, “and cast down the wicked” he finished, taking a grim delight in hearing the bone crunch as bones were broken and shattered by the stone, the Skull screaming out in pain before being cut down by an Alliance soldier. He got lucky with another stone, as it went higher than intended, but still managed to hit another Skull in the head, the man instantly crumpling and not getting back up.

He had little time to take satisfaction in his handiwork though, as another Skull charged at him, forcing him to dodge the blow, responding with a whack of his cane across the man’s back.

“Yield, savage!” the Skull growled and turned around, grasping then attempting to wrench the cane from Felixient’s grasp.

“You’re attacking a convoy of injured, in the Reach you slaughtered those who had surrendered or were non-combatants, and you’re calling us savages?” the elezen snarled as he relinquished his own weapon, knowing that it would be a waste of effort trying to keep his hold on the weapon. The Skull stumbled back slightly, not expecting Felixient to simply give up his weapon, the elezen taking advantage of the Skull’s momentary confusion to rush forward and grasp the front of the man’s uniform, drawing him close enough to slam his own forehead into the Skull’s face, hitting him where the bridge of the nose met the forehead, satisfied as he felt the Skull’s nose break. She let got of the man and took a step back, the Skull almost doubling over, his hands flying up to his own face, cradling it as he looked upon Felixient with hate in his eyes. Not wanting to wait for the Skull to retaliate, Felixient flung his hand into his robes and when he felt his fingers brush the handle of a dagger hidden within, swiftly pulled it out and rushed at the skull again, burying the weapon up to its hilt in the eye of the Skull, the man dropping with nary a sound.

As the Skull’s body fell to the ground, Felixient crouched down and pulled up the hem of his robes to reach and take the two daggers he had strapped to his legs, standing back up just in time to drive one of them into the stomach of another Skull who tried to rush up behind him. He had little time to recover before he saw one of the Alliance soldiers being advanced upon by two more Skulls, and he rushed forward, one dagger finding a new home in the nape of a Skull’s neck, the other biting into the shoulder of the second, giving the Alliance soldier the opportunity to run her through with his spear.

Then almost as quickly as it began, the fighting ended, surviving Skulls retreating and leaving the Alliance and Resistance forces to regroup and lick their wounds. After checking in on the Alliance soldier he had saved, Felixient retried his daggers from the fallen Skulls, then retraced his steps to find his third dagger and locate his cane, offering aid to any injured allies along the way. Thankfully none of the injured being transported had suffered any injuries or were killed, though with the injuries taken by the Alliance soldiers escorting them, the convoy was forced to move even slower than planned, not making it to Castrum Oriens until well after nightfall. It was there that the defenders found out what the Skulls were really after, and that they had succeeded, lowering the already lowered moods of those present.

After seeing the injured to the care of the chirurgeons and being debriefed by the superiors, Felixient wandered over to an empty bunk in the Ishgardian barracks and flopped down onto it, burying his face into the pillow. Ursielle was right, he was out of shape, the fighting and healing afterwards had made him physically and mentally exhausted, feeling like he had been running all day, as well as undergoing intense academic tests. He heard footsteps approach him, yet thought nothing of it, assuming their owner to be finding and claiming a bunk for themselves to rest in for the night.

“Y’fought like a Brumeling Inquisitor” came the familiar voice of one of the knights in his squad. Ser Eilis if he recalled correctly. The tone wasn’t accusatory or questioning, merely a statement of a fact.

“I am a Brumeling” he replied as he shifted his head, so his voice wasn’t muffled by the pillow. “I had a…reputation back in the day”

“I figured the name was familiar, though I’m too young to remember your…glory days in the Brume, though I heard whispers about them.” She replied, taking a seat on the edge of the bunk opposite Felixient’s. “I must admit, of anyone with the last name of ‘Grinnaux’ in the Brume, I’m more familiar with Ivaurault than anyone else”

Felixient let out a groan at the mention of his youngest brother. “Yes, I’ve been made aware of his activities in the Brume and around Ishgard” he replied. “Very aware”

Eilis chuckled, knowing full well of what some of Ivaurault’s activities comprised of. “I imagine the Temple Knights have been keeping you well informed of what he’s been up to then?” she teased, eliciting another groan from the elezen.

“I have hope that perhaps staying with our brother might temper some of his actions, but somehow I doubt that will happen. He’s a willful young thing who takes ‘no’ as encouragement” he said as he buried his face into the pillow again.

“He sounds like a handful” Eilis said, trying to sound sympathetic though the grin on her face betrayed her thoughts. “But he’s at least had the smarts to stay away from the Brume’s criminal elements, so perhaps there can be some hope for him in the future”

“He’d better stay away, I don’t want him mixed up with those groups” Felixient replied, voice muffled, as he became too drowsy to even shift his head to be heard properly. “But it gladdens me to hear that from someone else”

“Glad to hear” Eilis said as she stood up form the bed and stretched. “You sound like shite, so I’m going off and letting you get some rest, I’ll see you later”

Felixient slumped to the ground, physically and mentally exhausted from his night’s efforts. The Garleans had struck Rhalgr’s Reach in a sudden, devastating attack. Many were killed, from Resistance soldiers, to chocobos, to even the unarmed sutlers, non-combatants who provided support to the Resistance. The Alliance rushed in as soon as they received the news, Felixient’s unit being sent out to aid and push back the Garlean forces. He had lost count of the number of bells he was out there, first fighting the Garlean remnants as they retreated, and then finding and tending to the wounded, murmuring prayers to Halone for those who had not made it.

He heard footsteps approach him, and looking up, he was greeted with the sight of his sister, Ursielle, approaching him, her gold eyes looking at him with some concern. He offered her a weak smile as she joined him.

“Ursa, it does me well to see that you’re unharmed”

Ursielle offered her brother a smile in return as she strode over and sat next to Felixient.

“Looks like you really wore yourself out, you need to get back into shape dear brother” she teased, flashing him a smirk.

“Indeed, in the wake of the end of the Dragonsong War I’ve become…lazy. Not many heretics around anymore” he shot back with a chuckle.

“Well it’s a good thing you’re here in Gyr Abania then, you’ll get back into shape in no time!” Ursielle said, grinning at him.

“Indeed, I shall. Though I must first acclimatise to this accursed heat though, several Temple Knights are not taking to it well” Felixient replied, his expression betraying his concern for his countrymen.

“The heat takes some getting used to, yes, but soon they’ll care little for it at all. Although the armour is probably not doing them any favours” Ursielle said, playing with a strand of her red hair as she thought about the Gyr Abanian heat and the knight’s armour.

“Well in any case, it seems to affect them little in combat situations so far, so there may be hope for them yet” he said reassuringly.

“Hope for Ishgardians? My, my, Felix you’ve certainly changed” Ursielle teased, earning a light flick to the tip of her ear from her brother.

The pair chuckled and fell into silence, looking around at Rhalgr’s Reach and the people still cleaning up and coming to terms with the Garlean’s carnage, the pair’s moods turning sombre.

“So…why are you really here?” Ursielle asked, her voice low.

“To help with the efforts to reta-” Felixient started.

“No, not what you’ve told your superiors in the Inquisition and anyone in Ishgard and here who’s asked you. I want to know the real reason” Ursielle cut in, her tone serious as she stared up at him, her gold eyes almost boring into him. “I know that you really don’t care much for those outside Ishgard, barring myself, Quint and that odd miqo’te you’re so fond of”

Felixient and looked away at the mention of the miqo’te, and Ursielle’s expression softened at his reaction.

“Ah” she said “It has something to do with him then. You found him then?”

“Yes” Felixient said, voice hard and cold.

“That bad huh?” she asked.

“I sent him a knife” Felixient simply replied.

“Ah shite, and after all that time in Ul’dah going through the different goldsmiths. I won’t press you for the details” Ursielle cursed. “But for you to have sent a knife, it must’ve been bad”

Felixient grunted and said nothing, watching as some Resistance members and Alliance soldiers worked on moving pieces of broken magitek.

“Did you ever tell him about…” Ursielle started to ask, drifting off as she looked up at her brother.

“No, I didn’t. I was planning on telling him, but I never really found the time that was most appropriate” Felixient said, his voice soft. “It matters little now, he’s gone and out of my life, and I’ve signified that our bonds have been cut, and he has naught but himself to blame” he continued, his voice turning cold and hard once more.

Ursielle closed her eyes and gently shook her head, despite the years and the changes to his self and personality, beneath that seemingly calm and controlled exterior, there was the cold and vindictive Brumeling, capable of great harm to others should they earn his easily gained ire. She suppressed a shudder and mentally gave a small prayer for her brother’s ex-lover, mayhaps it was best for the miqo’te that Felixient was in Gyr Abania. Perhaps that was why Felixient decided to come here. Dispelling such thoughts for another day, she gently placed a hand on his arm and looked him in the eyes. “I know not what happened, nor is it my place to know or ask, but for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I know how fond you were of him”

Felix closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. “You needn’t apologise. We’re done, it’s over, and he’s dead to me. I just need to…distract myself for a bit and Gyr Abania is proving to be the perfect opportunity to do so”

“I understand Felix, and I’m here if you need to speak with a familiar and friendly face about it” she offered as she stood up and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, her brother’s comments coming as little surprise to her. “And I am glad to have you here assisting in the Gyr Abania campaign, someone of your talents and expertise will be of a great boon here, there are some who have the…drive to do as you do, but they simply lack the skills to do so effectively”

“Thank you Ursa, should I need to I will call on you” he replied, giving his sister a thankful, if sad, smile. “I figured my expertise would be of great use here, though I’ve yet to be called on it at the moment, perhaps in the near future I shall be”

“Well everyone’d be fools to not make use of your skills. From what I’ve heard, the Garleans captured who actually know anything to begin with are rather tight-lipped. Not sure if it’s because they do not deign to give us ‘savages’ any worthwhile information, or they fear the repercussions that son of a highborn, Zenos, would…bestow onto them” Ursielle said to him.

“Would not be surprised if it’s a bit of both, could be more of one than the other depending on the individual” Felixient replied. “But regardless of their reasoning for staying quiet, in the right hands, they can be made to talk”

“Aye, and you are good at making people talk, but ahhh, I need be on my way, I’m supposed to be patrolling, not speaking with my hellion of an older brother” she grinned, as she stood up and stretched, before walking away and offering a short, small wave in goodbye.