#ffxivwrite 2023

His gaze found hers and he shook his head slightly, as if to clear it. “Kaede? Why are you –”

His normally smooth voice was rough with exhaustion – or perhaps overuse – and Kaede shoved aside the implications of that, refusing to think too hard on it.

“Shouldn’t you be at home, Lord Commander? Resting?”

Aymeric glanced down at the papers in his hand for a moment. “Perhaps. I told myself there was work to be done, but…” He sighed, the force of it traveling visibly through his entire frame, but the exhale quickly slid sideways into a hiss of pain as his shoulders flexed.

Raising her eyebrows, Kaede walked around to the side of the bed, heedless of the way Aymeric’s eyes followed her in surprise. Instead her attention was trained on his back, the gauze stained rust-red with old blood.

“These should have been changed a bell ago.”

“The chirurgeons have their hands full, and I am not in any danger,” he murmured, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice.

She waved off his protests as she collected a nearby basin of water, pot of salve, and roll of fresh linen bandages, secretly pleased at the glimpse of unbroken spirit. “Yes yes, fine. Just turn around and let me see.”

Aymeric hesitated for a long moment, looking at her with a strange, unknowable expression, then slowly nodded and turned his back to her.

Settling on the edge of the bed next to him, she wordlessly unwound the soiled dressing, carefully peeling it away from the gashes and weals left by whip and blade. Horror settled in as she saw fully the ruined mess the inquisitors had made of his flesh, and gods, it wasn’t as if she needed another reason to bury her sword in Thordan’s black heart, but he’d seen fit to give her one, regardless.

Kaede quickly yanked her mind off of that path, instead devoting all of her focus to keeping her hands steady and her touch light as she washed his wounds with clean water and liberally covered them in salve, mindful of every quiet sharp inhale or suppressed twitch of pain.

He did not speak until she had finished carefully securing the bandages in place, murmuring a quiet “thank you, my friend,” into the cool night air.

Four simple words, containing a bottomless well of nameless emotion, which made it clear that he did not mean them merely for the dressing of his wounds.

‘Twas for his benefit that any of them had set foot within the Vault, after all. A fact that doubtless caused him no end of guilt and pain, but that she could do nothing to absolve him of, burdened as she was by her own. But neither would she lay any blame at his feet.

She stood and took a step back. “You’re welcome. See that you get at least some rest, Aymeric. I fear you’ll need it.”

Moving more easily than he had before, Aymeric turned, eyes fixed on her as if searching for something. After a moment, he nodded. “We all will.”

At his words, her mouth twisted – normally she would stay either in her guest room at Fortemps Manor, or the inn room she had reserved with Marzanna, but one lay beneath a heavy cloud of despair, and the other consumed by a storm of guilt-fueled rage. Kaede was certain that tomorrow, one or the other would stir to life in the icy numbness of her heart, but she had no wish to hasten the process.

Aymeric’s grief was quiet, aimed inwards in a way that did not make her want to scream and rend flesh from bone, but his presence grounded her against the temptation to sink into her own thoughts that solitude brought.

Perhaps her own could do the same for him.

Instead of leaving, as she’d intended, Kaede plucked from the bed the paperwork that Aymeric had put down earlier, relocating it to a distant table as he watched, mystified.

“What, may I ask, are you doing, my lady?”

With a disaffected toss of her braid over her shoulder, Kaede pulled a chair near to, but not next to, the side of the bed. She settled into it, arms crossed and leaning against the wall before she answered tartly, “Ensuring that you rest.”

Aymeric tilted his head, eyes narrowed as if he meant to protest, but the longer he studied her, the more his expression softened, until he finally summoned the wan ghost of a smile to his face and laid down on his stomach. Almost the moment he was settled, his breathing deepened and evened, exhaustion bearing him away as soon as he relaxed his guard for even an instant.

Stifling a jaw-cracking yawn, Kaede allowed herself to be lulled to sleep by the quiet sound of it, holding the depth of the ache in her heart at bay for just long enough.

“Ser Junius, we have come at your command. How can House Fortemps assist you?”

The Temple Knight commander didn’t look up at Artoirel and Jannie as the two approached her desk. Her fair cheeks were flush, eyes unable to meet the young couple as young Honoroit giggled in a chair behind her. The elder Fortemps shot a glare to the boy, getting the pageboy to be silent as Lucia composed herself.

“There was an incident in the Jeweled Croizer, involving your younger brother and U’rahn Nuhn.”

Jannie sighed, while Artoriel cursed under his breath. Lucia was taken aback for a moment by the lack of initial concern for the two’s well-being. Clearing her throat, she moved to stand then looked back to Honoroit, “Anyroad, it seems they were victims of a rather juvenile prank which resulted in…indecent exposure.”

“Indecent…The Fortemps name is sullied isn’t it? This is the end of our great house…” Artoriel breathed out, looking up to the ceiling.

Jannie gently took Artoritel’s arms against her to comfort him as she looked to the Commander, doing her best to comfort him as he reeled. 

“What were the circumstances exactly?”

“I think young Honoroit here should explain the details,” Lucia answered sternly, stepping aside so that the couple could focus on him.

The teen was stifling his amusement, swallowing his laughter with a deep breath. “I offered to treat Master Emmanellain and Master U’rahn to a meal with the royalties from my recent publication. In a moment of youthful indiscretion I thought to play a prank upon them. I should have known better, seeing who they are.”

“Out with it! What did you do, “Artoriel demanded.

“Well, Master Emmanellain fancied himself a new coat and we found ourselves in the tailor. I happened upon an empty hanger and then inspiration struck. I held it out before me and told them what extravagant fabric I had found. Of course they were perplexed at my findings, yet their nature prevented them from being entirely skeptical. I proceeded to explain it was made from a rare plant in Coerthas that once harvested and spun into fabric, only the most heroic of men could perceive it. Well, of course they then proceeded to proudly proclaim they both could see it.”

“Seven hells..,” Artoriel groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

“Surely they didn’t,” Jannie started before letting out another sigh,, “Of course they did. Oh, Honoroit. This is mischief worthy of Violet. Why did you not stop them!?”

“I did try. Honest Ms. Eyradoux! Before I could step in they were fighting over a hanger and making a scene. I offered a second hanger to resolve matters and in a flash they’d paid the confused shopkeep then disrobed and pantomimed putting on their ‘heroic’ vestments before running out into the street.”

“Where we then in turn swiftly apprehended them and brought them to their cells. As you can imagine we’ve had a bit of trouble convincing them they have been victims of mischief,” Lucia sighed.

Artoriel glowered at Honoroit while Jannie shook her head. The boy shrugged, “I cannot help that I’ve built up a reputation as the straight man to Master Emmanellian’s antics. It made for the perfect storm of hijinks.”

“It seems it has,” Jannie hummed, unable to prevent herself from cracking the slightest of smiles. 

“Don’t you dare give this any life. Commander, where are the idiots?”

“Right…this way,” Lucia answered, cheeks flushing once more, leading the two down to the cells. 

Approaching, both smallclothed clad men hurried to their bars, looking up eagerly to the couple. U’rahn’s tail danced around behind him with excitement as he looked up into Jannie’s eyes while Emmanellain did the same toward his brother.

“Great tidings my brave, heroic brother. Please tell the Commander here that surely there has been some mistake and you can see the dazzling coat I am in,” Emmanellain begged.

“Yeah Yeah! You’re a Warrior of Light light me! Jannie! C’mon C’mon! Tell her there’s a mistake.

Jannie simply smiled, letting Atroriel put his head against the bars, eyes burning with rage to the point that both men cowered, “Lady Commander, I do not see my brother here. Nor Master U’rahn. These miscreants should be left in here to never again see the light of day.”

“If you’re sure Lord Fortemps,” Lucia answered with a light bow.

You stay an adventurer for long enough, you get to meet a whole heavenly host of folks. Lots of people who wanna take you under their wing for a bit, then clap you on the back and send you right off a cliff, with weapons and gear and a stone.

It's to see if you can fly, of course. Doesn't matter if you do, their job is done the moment your feet leave solid ground. "Aw, rough stuff, kiddo," they say when your arse hits the ground and you break near every bone in your body. "You gotta get back up there and practice, practice, practice!" String your fancy-pants words and swings together properly, right, without more than a few moments of thinking. Check your work, see if it knocks a hamza more than a few inches off its feet.

That kinda shite is hard, friend. 'specially when you get one of those extra fancy-pants stones what let you skip the baby steps and go right to the big stuff. Talk about walking off a cliff, it's like taking the helm of an airship and going for a flight to Kugane when you've never flown a ship a day in your life!

Which is why I like Grandpa so much. "Grandpa" is what I call Radovan. Big Hrothgar who was a prisoner of the Garlean Empire, once upon a time. Now, he's a proper mercenary, and a gunbreaker too. Took an exiled viera on as an apprentice gunbreaker. Real nice gent.

You didn't know about viera goin' into exile, did you? Don't know if I got time to go in ta' all that business. It's messy, it's got Garleans in it. You'd get sad. You don't wanna be sad today, do you?

Shite, I'm rambling. So, Grandpa adopts the young lady (Minti), introduces her to Sophie, another viera what's adventuring partners with him, and bing bang boom, traveling the realm happens. Rights Minti's ship when it's drifting to the side, teaches her how to ground herself, what keeping your word means. Nice gent. Real nice.

I know, I know, there were other teachers in Minti's life. The lady got around a lot before Gage Acquisitions happened - can you blame her? But Radovan was special because he taught her to be reliable.

You can be the sharpest blade in the arsenal, got the smartest spells memorized, but if you're not able to keep your wits about you under fire, then what in the nine hells are all those weapons for? They're only pretty trinkets if you panic.

Which brings me back to what I was sayin' earlier, about getting kicked off the cliff. When I'm working, when I'm plummeting down that cliff, I got more than a real chance at surviving. At thrivin'. I bring my all to bear, best you believe. I'll hit the bottom, get the hells back up and go "Again."

Now let me be, before my words get all tangled up. You have need of me, you know to call on me.

“Miss Rhiki! Miss Rhiki!”

The combination of the small voice calling her name and the tugging at her sleeve woke Z’rhiki from her daydreaming. She looked down to see a pair of big blue eyes looking up at her.

“Oh, hi Riqi-Tio! I didn’t see you down there.”

The girl’s pupils widened. “Y-you remembered my name!” She said, her voice brimming with awe.

In the face of such earnest excitement, Rhiki couldn’t help but beam. “Of course I did!” she responded. “It’s the same as my name, after all! Well, sort of.”

“I-It is!” Riqi-Tio had evidently not considered the similarity in the sounds of their names before, and appeared all the more eager for it. She still hadn’t released Rhiki’s sleeve.

“Yup!” Rhiki nodded, still smiling. “Now, what can I do for you, other-Riqi?”

“Uh…” In her wonderment it appeared that the girl had forgotten what it was she had wanted to ask the Warrior of Darkness. “Oh! C-can you help me? Eirwel and Arkil said that you’re too busy and I shouldn’t bother you, b-but…!”

But a few minutes ago, Rhiki might have agreed that she was quite busy – between assisting with Ryne’s efforts in the Empty, contributing to Eulmore’s reconstruction, and participating in the search for a method to return the Scions to the Source, she had a lot on her plate and more on her mind. In that moment, though, she could think of nothing more important than helping little Riqi-Tio with whatever it was she was endeavoring to accomplish.

“Of course I can help you! We Rhikis have to stick together, after all!”

She hadn’t thought the girl’s eyes could get any larger, but they certainly seemed to. “O-Okay!” She rustled through the pocket on one side of her long pastel coat, then switched to the other. Rhiki waited patiently until she finally retrieved a piece of paper, which she held up for Rhiki to read. It appeared to be a hand-written list. Riqi-Tio pointed to one of the entries, “I don’t know what this one is….”

Rhiki knelt down so the girl could more easily show her the unfolded parchment. Upon closer inspection, it looked to be a list of herbs and other ingredients, written in the neat, swooping script..

“Miss Chessamile gave me this list. She asked me to bring it all back to the infirmary,” Riqi-Tio explained. “But, I don’t know where to get ligan-… ligna….”

“Lignum Vitae bark,” Rhiki supplied. She glanced at some of the other items that had already been marked with a check; bright flax, lime basil, harcot, light gerbera…

“Did you know where to find the rest of these on your own?” She asked, impressed.

Riqi-Tio shook her head. “No. But Miss Chessamile said a real Warrior of Light always asks for help! So, I asked other people, and they helped me.”

Rhiki nodded sagely. “She’s right. Miss Chessamile is very smart, isn’t she?” It always broke her heart to hear children talking excitedly about wanting to become Warriors of Light. She couldn’t stand the thought of them having to bear the burdens of an entire realm, or being forced to witness all of the pain and tragedy the world had to offer. But she also didn’t have it in her to crush their well-meaning dreams. She was glad, at least, the Chessamile was using the moniker to teach the right sort of lessons. “Hmm… I think Lignum Vitae trees grow in Lakeland….”

“All the way in Lakeland?” Riqi-Tio chirped. “But… I can’t go to Lakeland by myself….”

With one hand Rhiki reached up and mussed the girl’s soft, white hair. “Well, it’s a good thing you’ve got me to take you, then!”

“Really?” The young mystel’s voice came out as a gasp, her stubby tail standing on end. Rhiki could almost feel her vibrating with excitement. She grinned.

“Sure, why not?” She paused, “But, we should probably ask Miss Chessamile, first.”

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“Is that one?” Riqi-Tio pointed to one of the passing trees from her place on Lieutenant Nibbles’ back.

Though Chessamile had been dubious of the proposal at first, and had pointed out that Lignum Vitae bark could be obtained from the botanists in the Crystalline Mean, Riqi-Tio’s enthusiasm for the trip had won her over. Besides, she and Rhiki had reasoned, if one couldn’t be safe traveling in the company of the Warrior of Darkness, when could they? So, with a solemn promise to return the little girl unharmed, they had set off on their errand. Not wanting to overly tax her charge, Rhiki had offered her a ride on the back of her chocobo, which she had eagerly accepted. The Lieutenant had always been a patient, responsible sort, and didn’t seem to mind carrying such a tiny rider.

Rhiki squinted at the tree, then glanced down at the gathering log she held open in the hand that wasn’t wrapped in the chocobo’s reigns. “Uhhh… I don’t think so. The wood looks too light. Let’s look for a different kind.”

“Okay.” Riqi-Tio settled back into the saddle and resumed diligently scanning the landscape for candidates.

“Oh, what about-“ the girl suddenly stopped short, before pointing fervently again, this time to the south. “Miss Rhiki! Look! That one’s moving!”

“Huh?” Rhiki looked up in the direction Riqi-Tio was indicating. “Oh! That’s not a tree. It’s a violet triffid. It’s an animal… Well, sort of, I guess. It’s a seedkin, anyway.”

“Triffid,” Riqi-Tio repeated, eyes still fixed on the lumbering giant. “What does it eat? People?”

Rhiki giggled a bit, nudging Riqi-Tio with her elbow. “Don’t worry, I don’t think it eats little mystel.” She said. “Actually, that’s a good question. What do violet triffid’s eat? I’m not sure.... Maybe… purple carrots?”

It was Riqi-Tio’s turn to giggle. “That’s silly!” She pointed out.

“Well, what do you think they eat, then?”

“Uhh… Pixie apples!”

The two continued to speculate about the dietary preferences of violet triffids, until a copse of dark-trunked trees caught Rhiki’s eye.

“Oh, those look like the ones we want!”

“R-really?” Riqi-Tio scrambled  out of the Lieutenant’s saddle, almost falling sideways off of it before Rhiki caught her and set her gently on the ground.

“Careful!” She reminded. Pocketing her gathering log, she reached over to the girl. “Here, take my hand.”

When one of Riqi-Tio’s small hands wrapped around hers, Rhiki led them closer to the small grove. Up close, she could see the distinctive grooves in the bark that the log had indicated. “Yep, these are the ones we want!”

“Yay!” Riqi-Tio beamed. She stretched her free arm out to run her hand along the trunk of one of the trees. “But how do we get the bark off?”

“I’ll show you,” Rhiki offered, releasing her hand and shrugging her pack from her shoulders. Riqi-Tio waited patiently while she retrieved a knife and a sack for collecting their prize.

“Like this! First, you have to make a little cut, and saw back and forth.” She demonstrated, shuffling to kneel next to the tree so that Riqi-Tio could watch. She dug the blade of the knife into the tree with a bit of effort, then wiggled it to pry the bark loose from the wood. “Then, you can grab the bark that’s sticking out and pull down!” Following her own instructions, she grasped the tab she had created with the knife and pulled, until the strip of bark tapered off and broke from the tree. “See? Not too hard.”

Riqi-Tio watched with rapt attention, nodding after each sentence to demonstrate she was listening. Rhiki offered her the sack, then the strip of bark she had just harvested, which the girl dutifully stowed away.

Rhiki nodded approvingly and had started her next incision, a few ilms away from the first, when Riqi-Tio interrupted her.

“Can I help?”

“Uh…” Rhiki considered this for a moment. “Sure! How about this? I’ll make the cut, and then you can pull the bark off. Sound good? Be careful, it’s a little rough – you don’t want to scrape your hand. If you need help, just let me know.”

“Okay!” Riqi-Tio waited until the beginnings of a strip had been cut loose, then reached up to peel the bark down. Rhiki watched her struggle to pull a piece free, smiling warmly.

“Need help?”

“No! I can do it!” Riqi-Tio insisted. She pulled harder, leveraging the entire weight of her tiny body, and finally managed to pull a portion free. She displayed the fruits of her labor to Rhiki, who clapped enthusiastically.

“Good work! Ready for the next one?”

Riqi-Tio shoved the scrap into the sack she had set aside. “Yeah!”

The next strip was easier, and the one after that still easier. They moved to a different tree, not wanting to cut too much bark from a single one, and repeated the process. They worked in tandem, cutting and peeling bark, for quite some time, before Rhiki noticed Riqi-Tio’s energy beginning to flag. She glanced down at their haul and found the bag to be at least half full.

“All right, we should have enough! Let’s do one more, then we can go back to the Crystarium.”

“Okay! Can I ride on Mr. Nibbles again?”

“It’s Lieutenant Nibbles,” Rhiki snickered, digging her knife into another piece of bark. “He worked hard for that rank!”

“Lewtenant Nibbles,” Riqi-Tio corrected solemnly.

Distracted by her amusement, Rhiki angled the knife incorrectly and it slipped through the bark, nicking one of her fingers where her hand had been braced against the trunk. “Ow! Shi- I mean, Wicked White!”

“Are you okay?!” Riqi-Tio gasped while Rhiki pulled her hand back and waved it wildly at her side to cool the sting of the cut.

“Ow, ow!” She hissed, placing the tip of her finger to her mouth and tasting blood. She looked down at the small slice in her finger pad. It hurt, certainly, but she could tell it was nothing serious. To Riqi-Tio she said, “Yeah, I’m fine. No need to worry! It’s just a little cut. See? This is why you have to be careful with knives!”

“Can I see?” the small girl reached both hands up towards Rhiki’s. “I can help!”

Rhiki hesitated for a few seconds before proffering her hand to Riqi-Tio. “It’s okay, really. Just a scratch, see?”

“No, I can help!” Riqi-Tio repeated, resolute. Reaching deep into one of her coat pockets and fished out a small roll of bandages. She grasped Rhiki’s injured finger with one of her small hands and, with some difficulty, wrapped a bandage around the tip of it with the other. Fondness bloomed in Rhiki’s chest as she watched the young girl work.

Riqi-Tio pulled the edge of the bandage free from the roll and tied it in place with surprisingly adroit movements. “Ta da! All better!”

“Wow! It is all better!” Rhiki marveled in exaggerated wonder. She reached out with her newly bandaged hand to once again pat Riqi-Tio’s head. The little mystel’s ears wiggled in delight. “You’re going to be the best apothecary ever.”

Riqi-Tio was aglow with pride. “Yeah!” She exclaimed as Rhiki set back to collecting the last piece of bark. “When I grow up, I’m going to make the best potions in the whole world! And then I’ll give them to you so you can be safe on your adventures!”

“I can’t wait.” Rhiki grinned. “Well, shall we head back to the Crystarium and deliver all this bark to Chessamile?” She plucked the sack from the ground and held it up for Riqi-Tio to see before stuffing it, along with her knife, back in her pack.

“Yeah!”

Rhiki slung her pack back over her shoulder and walked with Riqi-Tio over to where Lieutenant Nibbles had been waiting, uncomplaining, watching the proceedings. She helped the child onto the chocobo’s back, and they set off back in the direction of the Crystarium, chatting.

“See that island over there?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s actually a big turtle!”

“Nuh-uh! There’s not turtles that big!”

“Yuh-huh! It is! His name is Bismarck.”

“How do you know his name?”

“He told me.”

“Turtles can’t talk!”