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”