WARRIOR OF LIGHT

❝Well I've collaborated with some members of the Sons in the past. Just casually, nothing official, but there was enough of a friendship to get myself an invite when I heard about the expedition.❞

He was still kind of surprised that he'd managed to get involved, but the fact that he had was a good sign for the future.

Hope gave Meiko a wry smile, ❝Not quite as exciting as getting dragged in due to being a Scion I suppose, but I'm grateful nonetheless. ❞

"Mm. Did ye intend fer Varis tae become yer successor? Or did ye leave that tae be chosen by th' succession war?"

And after their mother had died it had been Lightning who made sure that Serah was clothed and fed, that she went to school and did her homework, that she had all she needed.

And yet now Serah was grown and walking on her own two feet. It wasn't like Lightning didn't have a place her life anymore, even if she'd once feared that would be the case, but there was still a sense of lose.

❝It's...hard.❞ Lightning agreed, ❝Like I'm closing a chapter of my life, but I don't know how to write the next part. I should be happy, it's not just the two of us anymore. We have other people who love us now, people who are there to help whenever we need it, but..❞

Her hand tightened on the handle of her drink, tight enough that it started to hurt.

"S'no hard, I think. Just scary. Like startin' over when yer already grown." She paused to take a sip of her drink. "But keepin' a tight leash an' treatin' them like they're children'll only push 'em away. An' shelterin' them for tae long'll risk them bein' helpless. So I've tried not tae smother tae much."

She sighed, looking over and offering Lightening a weak smile.

"Wouldn't think ya were the shy type based on yer whole," she waved a large hand, "look."

Pain wasn't the word-wise type. Even if she had the vocabulary -- which, she did not -- she wasn't exactly in the habit of debating her way to victory. This Viera had a vibe. An energy. A vague, sort of, intense aura. It was the same kinda tingly, dangerous feeling that led her to work with the Scions in the first place. The kind of thing that just suited her.

That, an' the visions...

It meant abandoning her original plan. Out of respect for her comrades, she did, very briefly, consider not approaching the strange, be-jangled woman. But... she would chase this curiosity until it was sated. They had to be okay with that, on some level, right? It was simply who Pain was.

If they hadn't caught on by now, Sharlayan may well be the heart of a scam.

Still, it was amusing enough of a request. And it wasn't like Meiko hadn't been in her fair share of scraps before.

Not every researcher was capable of fighting like he and G'raha were, and even with them there was doubt that they were as capable as professional adventurers.

❝That's the main reason at least, admittedly in my case there might be a little more caution. I'm not directly affiliated with the Sons of Saint Coinach or the Students of Baldesion after all, so...❞ He didn't want to say that he was considered untrustworthy, that wasn't the case, but he also wasn't really fully part of the group.

It was unfortunate, but it was to be expected. He had attained some attention himself as a researcher, but his organization was still relatively unknown. They were more a collection of affiliated do-gooders then some recognized group.