Chapter Text
There was a scent in the air. Not the humidity, not the flowers on the breeze, not the reeds cooking or the body odour of his companions, but something moist. It felt heavy in the air, and as Erenville peered out from under the awning, he could see the sky was no longer clear.
They had to start moving. The rain would come and make travelling miserable, but if they got to Uyuyub’ before it began, they could be able to wait. The Raintriller was not a silent hunt – it sang its every move, announcing itself wherever it popped up.
The tourists who had gone fishing down south, who survived the attack when it last popped up, said it disappeared up into the cave systems. It could be anywhere. But given the hunt would likely not return to the spot it met conflict – being attacked by Hanuhanu protecting the tourists – it was best to assume it had moved through the caves onward.
It had been a blessed extra day of not needing to journey onward; Erenville had perhaps been too keen to get moving, Meteor rejecting the suggestion and wanting to stay and do a bit more in the area. Eheeya, despite being the exact type of tourist who wants to soak in the experience of where he is, was almost at his goal; he’d been a bit restless all day yesterday, constantly looking skyward for any clouds.
The trio were feasting on lovely fruits and a very fibrous vegetarian breakfast. Meteor was careful to keep his grumbling about missing meat after their host had departed. Eheeya shrugged, saying he was used to eating whatever he wanted, when he wanted it, so having less choice was actually novel. He was explaining a porridge his mother would make while living in the Outskirts while Erenville plotted their course and began to tighten all the straps of his bag.
“Well, that’s the look of a gleaner about to head out.” Meteor raised a brow as Erenville returned to them.
“Correct. Get packed. The rain is coming, and we need to be away from these kind people when it does.”
“It’s happening?” Eheeya looked upwards at Erenville, his eyes almost sparkling. It looked sincere, but given Erenville had seen hidden depths to this young man, was that all? Perhaps the reality of the journey coming to an end would sink in during the walk over.
“It is. Get your good boots on. You may need to climb a tree, which, as you’ve said, you are quite good at.”
Erenville considered, a bit selfishly, if they could tap into the wealth of the Arcadion star or the Warrior’s pockets to rent some alpacas to ride over. The journey to the House of High Winds was not too far – a few hours journey northwest – but along the way were hammerhead crocodiles. Perhaps it was Erenville being too used to travelling alone, not wanting to deal with potential beasts and combat on the way.
In the end, the pair had packed quickly, far quicker than Erenville had expected; it was nice to be taken seriously, with his suggestion to get moving being met with appropriate urgency. Perhaps it had been unfair to assume that two goofy young men together would increase the chance of slow movement and time wasted fooling around. When he provided the suggestions for their next steps, this was met with Meteor shaking his head. Transport services only took major roadways that merchants might travel, between settlements: the House was no such destination, used by the Hanuhanu solely for their magic training. He had mystical mounts in which, if truly desperate, he could attempt to call.
But Eheeya said no.
“Do we really wanna be a big, flashy target? I’m not here to hurt it, or anything else. Just to... see it. Take a photo to show my ma.” His smile was bright and sincere, and Erenville never had any intention of going after a genuine hunt. Not unless it was commissioned for his job, and absolutely not with a party this small.
However, he also wanted to be small and unassuming, so not taking a large mount was fine by him. Eheeya’s bright neon hair wouldn’t exactly blend in, but the bright colours of the flora in the area did not make him too noticeable while he moved between them. A large aphid, perhaps.
Meteor looked skyward as they stepped out of the safety of the Ok’hanu settlement, the Hanuhanu bidding them a warm goodbye with a wave of their glorious feathers and clack of their beaks. He pointed out the clouds moving in, slowly gathering streaks and puffs that were on a journey across Kozama’uka. Just like them - though Meteor quipped that there was even a dark cloud, like Erenville.
Deciding to let that one go, lest Meteor think he was clever, Erenville nodded in agreement: the movement meant that by nightfall the sky may be darkened by them completely. The House of High Winds would not have more than basic amenities, given it was for magical training; but, it would protect both from the rain above and beasts below while providing a good view down around the area.
“I should catch us some fish for dinner, actually. They might have a good spot nearby.” Meteor had been complaining about not having meat for a while. It made sense he would be the one to suggest it.
“Not all of them are edible,” Erenville warned. Eheeya had brightened with delight only to be immediately dimmed by Erenville’s reality check. “However, you are the Champion here. If you wish to attempt the challenge of feeding us edible fish, I will not stop you.”
Eheeya was already bouncing on his heels impatiently, rocking side to side slightly as his two guides yammered on and on. The Hanuhanu had already said goodbye, they had a destination, and yet there they were still going on and on. Erenville looked to his young charge and decided to let it go. “Apologies. Onward. Surely the trainees at the House will not mind our temporary camp. Correct?”
Erenville’s eyes fell to Meteor. Meteor nodded, understanding this was a pointed question. “Already told them where we’re headed. I didn’t forget. Promise.”
“Can we try fishing still, though? I only got to do a little bit in the lake with Erenville.”
“Only if we make it past those wily crocodiles on the way.”
---
The clouds moved quicker than they did. Erenville felt foolish, given his experience; he should have gotten them there quicker, but the clouds gathered and grew heavy overhead. They may walk along a trodden roadway with some stones to form the path, but just alongside them were shallow, swampy pools of standing water. The small bridges they walked across, the rushing, muddy waters charging past below, were home to orobons and other wavekin. Nearby, they could hear the buzz of great beetles in the brush and the calls of birds. Plenty of both were aggressive, and large.
Erenville calmed himself by being a proper guide on the route – the calls of the birds were named to the best of his knowledge, and the assorted flora growing off the trees along the path were diligently named as well. “Symbiotic,” he said, proceeding to define each type of biological relationship. Eheeya said he and Erenville had a symbiosis this entire trip.
“Don’t say that, Erenville will make fun of you.” Meteor watched Erenville open his mouth slightly to say something, and then shrug. It made everyone laugh – even Erenville’s lip quirked in the tiniest smile.
Eventually, Eheeya fell surprisingly silent. His steps did not slow, but his eyes wandered. Erenville had seen this before during their brief time together: he was stopping to slow down and really take everything in. This was the end of the journey outside the dome, the journey he made to see a beast from his mother’s past. In a sense, Erenville could understand the actions.
He was trying his best to really see the world, and listen to the sounds. To soak in as much as he could, to try and remember it all.
The bright red blooms on the shorter trees, and the sound of the crocodiles fighting in the mud in the distance. The delicate glow of radiant butterflies hovering over vivid flower bushes, low to the ground. The crackle of the fire from the wood braziers the Hanuhanu left to mark the path to their training ground. The smell of the muddy waters, the heavy air, the breeze that kept it all from being too stifling and still.
“Almost there, huh.” Eheeya broke his silence.
“Been a long way to go for you, huh, Dancing Green?” Meteor’s jovial tone sounded more serious than normal. “You excited?”
“’course I am. But it feels weird, knowing that sooner than later, I’ll have accomplished my goal... and then I go back.”
“Just how a journey is. It’s about the way there, I think – not the goal at the end. Does that make sense?”
Erenville understood completely. That was his entire reason for being: the journey. The being in the world. Going place to place. Sunrises and sunsets, all across the star. The sights, tastes, and smells. He would reflect on this all more in depth once they’d actually found the Raintriller, surely, but for now... he was curious how Eheeya would answer.
“It does. I’m glad I’m here. I don’t think the fish around these parts will be that great, though.” The expression on his face as he turned to Meteor was sour, nose scrunched, lips pursed and turned downward. “It’s all shallow and muddy.”
“Probably not, but there might be something I can skewer and put over a fire.”
“You miss meat that much? That’s weird, man.”
“We can ask the residents. Alternately, perhaps you could use your calls to lure out some frogs, and we could eat those instead.” Erenville, always pragmatic and practical.
“Oh, yeah?” Meteor’s brows raised.
Eheeya did not waste a moment before making a few assorted frog calls; most received no answer from the world around them, but eventually he found one that got a few responses. He copied them, effortless, and soon the responses grew louder. Meteor and Erenville had both heard frogsong in the rain, when it was wet and safe for the amphibians to come out to get to... business; Eheeya was almost a siren, bidding the frogs come out to see him.
Truly a strange talent.
“Fascinating,” was all Meteor could manage after such a loud display. “I guess if there's a big one somewhere in these mud holes, you can get me some bait.”
“Happy to help!” Eheeya laughed, eyes sparkling. The real Dancing Green shone through, someone that Meteor had only seen very briefly before - Erenville had seen him the entire time.
The Hanuhanu gathered near the bottom of the long, spiral staircase had clearly gathered to listen to the strange rise in noise. Meteor walked towards them, giving the customary greeting and unslinging his pack; the Ok’hanu settlement had passed him some supplies to bring over to the trainees, of which immediately put the trio in good graces.
Erenville looked skyward to the very top platform. Given the ceremonial location, it was unlikely they would be permitted to –
“Up we go.” Meteor waved both the Shetona over, the Hanuhanu dispersing with their goods. He put one worn leather boot on the bottom step of that long, upward staircase, grinning proudly. He'd gotten them permission to wait up top for the Hunt.
“I… well, I suppose having to run up the entire way once we hear the sounds is a bad idea. Best to be prepared.”
“Do they just fly up?” Eheeya looked at the staircase, spiralling around the great tree to the very top platform. His legs were augmented from feral soul use - this would not be a challenge. “What's it all for, anyway?”
Meteor opened his mouth to begin regaling with the tale of the Feat of Reeds, which Eheeya was delighted to hear. The story of travelling alongside Wuk Lamat and the Hanuhanu culture was less interesting than how Meteor told it: the simple joy of exploration and adventure poured from every word. The Warrior of Light had a wonderful time, it seemed.
Erenville only tuned in partially to correct detail or add a bit more context, but his words were few. He was watching the clouds gather, and above the Hanuhanu were rolling out some cloth to cover the top level of the House. Rain or shine, training was to be done.
“Anemoia,” Erenville was careful to use the name given to Meteor, “you've mentioned your use of a feral soul changed you in some ways. Does the rain inspire anything? Rain is prime weather for frogs.”
“It doesn't rain in the dome or the Keep, so… maybe? Well, Solution 9 has artificial weather in some spots. But it'll be nice to feel actual rain, I think.”
“You won't turn into some sort of were-frog?” Meteor’s false concern was irritatingly thick.
“Yeah, maybe. I might leap off into the jungle and start my own colony. Then you're gonna have to hunt me down…”
“What a horrible fate. You'll be predated quickly.” Erenville's dry commentary made Meteor laugh.
The air was becoming heavy and wet, the smell of water growing thicker. Eheeya made a little sound, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“Giving me a headache,” he grumbled. Given the restrictive and controlled climate he was used to, Erenville wasn't surprised. “I can't miss anything. Not right now. Need my painkillers.”
“Do those also come in liquid pouches?” Meteor kept the banter light. The top landing came into sight as they followed the curve of the tree, and before Eheeya could answer, the sky opened.
The grey settled in, thick and desperate, unleashing a few first drops before the drizzle rapidly became a shower. They climbed into the now-covered top, the very peak of the House of High Winds, alongside two Hanuhanu.
“You dare to take the trial in these conditions?” One joked and Meteor tapped his lips thoughtfully as if considering it.
Erenville set his pack down and perched close to the edge. He could look down and across the landscape safely from his spot, clutching his heavy pack - just in case of any accidental bumps. The showers made the beautiful jungle below seem to wash out, the colour and vibrant life of it immediately soaking through and bleeding out. He sat, and listened with his entire being.
The sound of Meteor idly chatting with the Hanuhanu faded; all Erenville could hear was the rhythmic tapping of rain on the covering above and on the foliage below. Some drops hit the wooden steps they'd just climbed, making harsher taps than the other ones. It was a meditative trance, a peace, a calm in which he would begin to hear the calls of the beastkin below.
He knew someone was beside him. Eheeya’s minty smell, so strong in comparison to the natural jungle scent and the rain, wafted in. It interrupted Erenville, but not enough to pay Eheeya any further attention. The young man was silent, sitting at Erenville's side, a warm presence so close he could reach over and push him away.
The frogsong began in earnest below. The sound rose in fervour, as they all came out to stay moist as they hunted and, of course, mated. The opportunity was there after all. Erenville began to mentally name each species, each call of a beast or bird or wet creature in the jungle far below. He was grateful for the silence, the calm, as this was about to be the big event.
Eheeya, however, was once again restless. It was clear the tension and waiting were killing him slowly. He'd come all this way, after all. But it was never a guarantee he'd see the beast, let alone have actually ever made it here.
Yet, here they were, watching the rain and listening for the song of the hunt.
Meteor descended back down the steps, as he lacked fear and also had a fishing rod. It made sense for him to go on ahead, in case he spotted the creature - or it spotted him. Both were of no danger to the legendary Warrior of Light. Eheeya rose to join him, leaving Erenville to his thoughts. If he heard anything or saw something, the linkpearl was there to warn the other two.
Time seemed to ebb and flow as if it were crawling, flowing backward, and completely still all simultaneously. Erenville had missed the stillness of his solo travel. Now that he'd gone across Tural with his friends and allies, and done this smaller journey with only one companion, he had tried it all. And he did not like it.
Still, it had been enjoyable. It could have gone horribly wrong. Now was the final step, and it was nothing Erenville alone could affect directly.
—
Meteor was a nice guy. He'd done more than enough for Eheeya from the very start - including saving his and the rest of the Arcadion’s lives. It was one of those things Eheeya didn't know how to repay, a kindness that seemed like any attempt he made to repay would come off as pathetic and almost insincere.
At least he could be a good travelling companion. He thought he'd done a good job keeping up with Erenville. And now he could keep Meteor company, watching his back in the wet and wild jungle.
His shades weren't needed in the rain. He'd long since tucked them into the side of his pack. It felt weird to not be done up in all his colours, in his designated style for his kayfabe, and it was so… much. Freedom, so much freedom.
“Have you had a good time?” Meteor turned to him as they reached the halfway point of the downward climb. It was crazy to walk all the way up just to turn around, but Eheeya understood: give Erenville some space, and an excuse for them to have a minute to talk.
“Yeah. I was gonna… I dunno, write about it later. On the train back. Put my thoughts down. I've been doing bits of it as we go. I got a lil’ bit of paper in Shaaloani that I've been writing on since we stopped there. Just me and my thoughts.”
“Oh, a journal! Wow, you're just like the rest of the star, if you're doing that.”
“I already was? Unless you mean my phone. I'm saving battery on it. Er, energy, is what I mean.”
“We have batteries on machina. Garlean stuff.” Meteor paused, then quickly added, “I'm not explaining Garleans right now.”
Eheeya shrugged. “Sugar and I are thinkin’ of heading out to Eorzea. Doing a tour while the Arcadion gets reorganized. A… journey.”
“Really? Well, it's not great getting across the salt, but you'll have plenty to see. I'll make you a recommendation list.”
Eheeya felt his heart sing at the very idea. Getting to go out and see the world beyond the dome was enough - but beyond the continent? He knew Shetona lived long lives. Maybe he and Erenville could travel again, someday, in the future.
After all, he had his whole life back.
“Have you fished before?” Meteor was friendly, when he wanted to be. After clashing on stage, Eheeya was at ease - he'd seen the guy in combat. It made someone familiar to him, as it did with all Arcadion fighters.
“Oh, yeah, with my ma, and Erenville and I did a bit…”
They idly chatted, the sound of the frogsong below becoming almost too loud. It was starting to excite Eheeya - the sound he loved so much, and maybe a sound of the Big One.
Still, as the rain landed on him, falling from high above, it felt strange. Not cold, but soothing in the jungle heat. It made his skin buzz and he wished he could go swimming, but he couldn't delay getting back once he's finished here. He wanted to see his mom right away, and meet Sugar at the station with a book of stories and a journal of adventures.
—
Wherever the sun had been, it was impossible to tell now. Erenville couldn't see much from his perch without leaning out to look down; the rain was growing heavy, and he was thankful there wasn't much wind along with it. Down below, in the muddy water, his companions were up to whatever mischief they were likely to get into.
It wasn't the first time he was simply Waiting for a commissioned hunt to appear. This was, honestly, one of the most pleasant stakeouts he'd had; no need to be bent behind rocks or out in the heat, nor the cold or wind. The only problem here was how peaceful and soothing the rain was - the kind that could lull one to sleep.
The frogsong was so loud. The droning went on and on, making his ears almost numb. But something wet was sloshing around and thudding against the earth.
Erenville was immediately on his linkpearl. “It's here. It has to be.”
Erenville stood to gaze over the edge, the long fall into dark, wet jungle and mud below yawning up at him. The rain slapped his bare neck and shoulders, soaking the back of his head and ears almost immediately. It wasn't hard to spot the beast - a great, pale green and mud-slicked mass stomped out from the muck and lumbered out into the open.
“You coming?” Came Meteor’s reply, ringing into his soaking ear.
“Do I have to be there?” Erenville didn’t see what his presence down below would add. “He gets to see the beast, capture his memento image.”
“Erenville, you should know better than that.”
Erenville looked down from the high perch, through the rainy green, and there were a few bright sparkles of magic below. He knew that Eheeya would not be satisfied just seeing the beast; it was important to do it together. He was the same kind of person as Meteor, as Lamaty’i.
He gave another scan over the landscape, and saw the jungle moving noticeably to the north-west. Meteor responded in kind at the given directions, and Erenville disconnected.
He sighed and went to shoulder his pack, making the long (less exhausting) trek back down the stairs. This would be a muddy, miserably wet mess, but he knew this was going to happen at the end. A minor inconvenience. The end of the job, to bring the young man to the giant frog. He wasn’t sure what he’d really been expecting other than exactly this: rain, a Dome tourist pointing at a creature in delight, and Erenville having mud up to his knees.
That’s what he always had done. Except there was no tourist, but a Sharlayan scholar or staff giving approval and checking boxes off a list when he brought creatures in. It felt strange to be doing things without an end goal, a captured specimen, or a final destination. Just simple sightseeing.
The sound of the Raintriller was unmistakable, a singsong croak as it announced its presence. The cacophony of frog song was drowned out, much of it quieting at the lesser beings dispersed away from the area. When he gazed out at the jungle during the descent, Erenville could occasionally see the sparkle of magic; it could very well be Eheeya, given what he’d seen before.
Erenville’s boots hit mud and soaked lush grass beneath, each footstep heavy as he followed the sounds. It was luckily not night, meaning some daylight was available to keep the jungle from being dark and rainy. Erenville pushed fronds and flora aside as he moved as quickly as possible, trying not to make too much noise or slip, but keep moving to catch up with wherever the pair had ended up. Another flash of sparkling, technicolour magic, and he was close.
That was Eheeya’s magic. His dance speciality. Whatever it was, it was flashy and easy to follow, like a torch or flare in the rain and grey. The two were observing the Raintriller from a safe distance, hidden amongst thick leaves and vibrant flowers as the beast trot through the muddy pools. Eheeya waved Erenville over with urgency and did exactly what Erenville knew would happen:
Pointed over at the Raintriller, eyes wide, mouth open in a huge grin of joy.
His pack was already in his lap as he was squat down, Meteor keeping lookout. He withdrew that electrope rectangle device of his, powering it on; it began to trill slightly with a little tune as it glowed, awake, making Eheeya panic and tuck it under his crossed arms to muffle the sound. The Raintriller paid no mind, its song being more important.
And then... that was it.
Eheeya lifted his device, and there was a single little noise. He turned it to look at the screen, nodding. He looked up at Erenville, and tapped Meteor on the leg.
---
Eheeya was not sure how this would end.
He’d started with high hopes, a head full of dreams and excitement and possibilities; Sugar had told him people never finish things because that first rush of a new idea and telling people about it sustains them more than actually doing the project. She’d been right. As soon as they’d spent the first night at Lake Toari, he could feel the amount of work and time his stupid idea was going to take.
He’d wondered if they’d make it. Not in a deadly way, but would Erenville get tired of him quickly? Would something stupid happen and send Eheeya back to the safety of Solution 9? Would he, himself, reach Tuliyollal and decide that was enough? And if they reached the jungle where the Raintriller lived, would they be able to find it?
But here he was, pants and shoes soaked, rain dripping from his ears and his tied-back hair. On his phone screen was a photo of the Raintriller, trotting along, looking for a fight in the jungle. He looked up and saw Erenville’s golden eyes staring at him, piercing through the rain and the dark. Always judging, silent and thoughtful.
And it made it worth it.
“C’mere, I want us all in the shot.”
Meteor gave a grunt as he pulled one of the leaves aside, trying to crouch alongside Eheeya to be in the image being reflected back at them both. The Raintriller was just behind them, paused, licking its huge eyes with its vile tongue. Eheeya looked back over at Erenville, beckoning him with more urgency. Erenville stood there.
“Please? Just one last time. We’ve done it! All your hard work!”
Erenville gave a sigh, but there he was. Eheeya leaned close, trying to fit so many figures in frame; it was angled so the Raintriller was almost a background figure, as if it were he and Sugar posting at a new building for the official socials. Instead, it was Meteor and Erenville flanking him, Meteor looking awkward with a forced smile and Erenville like he’d been personally insulted, only Eheeya’s practiced smile shining through. The flash blinded them all, making the rain on their skin and hair shine, and all of three of them hiss in pain from the light.
“Again?!” Erenville loudly complained, muffled into a gloved hand. Meteor just blinked his eyes and shook his head out, as if he could shake the daze away.
“It’s dark, okay?! I only had one chance!” Eheeya whined, knowing he shouldn’t have after the group photo incident in Tuliyollal. But he had what he wanted. “We can go. I’ve... got what I wanted.”
Meteor looked thoughtfully towards the hunt mark, and Erenville immediately put a hand on his arm. “Absolutely not. Not alone. Not even with Anemoia. This was not what he discussed.”
“Fiiiiine, I’ll just report it to the clan.” Meteor’s shoulders slumped, his head hanging. Eheeya wondered if slaying the hunt was the real reason he’d come at all. He did seem to thrive in battle.
Eheeya turned to look back over at the Raintriller, peering out from between leaves. There it was, huge, imposing, loud and slippery, with a tongue that could choke and a body that could leap and crush; like his own transformation in the ring. This felt so anticlimactic, suddenly. In his head, listening to his mother’s tales of her life before the dome, he’d build up this grand epic as she’d nearly died fighting this thing. It was crazy to think it had been alive for decades, undeterred, moving from group to group as it terrorized those wandering off the safe paths.
He wasn’t sure what he expected. Perhaps the movies he’d watched had melted his brain and tainted how he viewed the world. Being a performer, the spectacle had been so much. But in reality, there was no grand soundtrack or audience. No narration.
Just him, his two friends, and a massive frog.
“We going?” He said, feeling rain running down his back, soaking into the base of his tail. Worse, some going down further, to where he didn’t want rain water ending up. There was no point in being here longer.
The journey had truly been the point of it all.
---
Nothing had been discussed regarding the return leg of the trip, but Erenville had assumed he’d be heading on back to the Dome with Eheeya. His personal business had not yet concluded in the area, and neither was Meteor’s. It felt much more relaxed as they retread their steps, Eheeya no longer needing to stop and smell the metaphorical roses.
Meteor was always on the go, and he had to report in with assorted collectible rocks to the clan and some other expedition in the harbour. This left Erenville and Eheeya to have another night on the beach, and this time, Erenville actually went in for a swim with his friend. He still couldn’t handle that overly revealing gold swimsuit of his friend’s, especially when it was now drawing the attention of locals.
The pain of being a beautiful boy, perhaps. He understood, but made sure to never draw that sort of attention to himself at any time. If it came, his winning personality shut down any further interest or pursuit. This time, Erenville diverted all attention to Eheeya and went off to sit with a cool, crisp drink and a simple meal, letting his travelling companion enjoy a final evening in the capital.
They did not spend the night, instead heading out to Shaaloani and camping again. Eheeya wanted to, saying he was more interested in being out in nature again before he headed back to the safety of an electrope stronghold. He diligently prepared the camping meal and even attempted to cut up some nopales – fresh from the sabotenders, the “butt cactus” - that he’d gone out and slain for their meal. It was peaceful, with Erenville happy to sit back and do his own thing while Eheeya wandered out to explore, journal and pen in hand.
Erenville noticed the young man had the book out, his messy handwriting filling the pages. He would look up from his own reading, watching Eheeya stretch his wrists and shake out his hands before going right back to writing; given he did everything on that device of his, writing may be a skill he did not use much.
“Do you not do much journaling? Or note taking?”
“Sorta-kinda, usually just when ideas pop up into my head and I gotta write them down. The traditional pen and paper method isn’t a thing, really. I learned how to write when I was in the outskirts, though. Some folks in the keep never learn how at all – electrope tech means you don’t have to.” Eheeya paused to talk with Erenville, smiling as he gave his wrist a break. He’d been lost in the flow since he wandered off to look at the landscape, falling oddly silent in his contemplation.
“I saw you were... drawing, earlier.”
“Hah! Trying to. I’ve been doing it since the start, but... I dunno. I saw you doing your stuff and wanted to copy. Isn’t that silly? I think having something I did myself will be nice. Not just pics on my socials.”
Erenville paused for a moment, considering this. And he could not help himself: “Copying the mentor, is it?”
“Yep,” Eheeya grinned, going right back to his scribbling.
The night was still, the insects singing into the night sky. Erenville did not sleep well, staring up at the stars above, and thinking about how tomorrow was the end of this little adventure. He had been travelling with companions a lot, lately – but he knew he would not miss it. Eheeya’s company had been surprisingly pleasant, despite how much Alexandria’s culture and soul-based practices made him angry, but Eheeya was not as different or entrenched in their beliefs as Erenville had assumed.
Was it unfair to feel that way? He couldn’t say. It was not his business to make judgements like that, and his upset at the destruction of his home would always win out. The loss of his mother. It was personal.
He didn’t understand the Arcadion and the ethos therein, but he found it disturbing nonetheless. Eheeya and every combatant there could be perfectly good people, and he still didn’t like the youth were eating up souls like that. Still, he wished the guy the best in his endeavours, as tomorrow, their relationship was over.
He was stewing over his complex feelings, thoughts flowing into one another as he took time to simply process them, and the next moment there was cool dew on his cheek. Eheeya was sitting upright at his side, hair a messy nest and sticking up at all angles as he yawned and brushed it with his fingers. He must have fallen asleep, finally – but it was too early for Eheeya to wake on his own.
“Why are you up?” It was a bit blunt and rude to ask immediately, but Erenville was not quite together yet.
“Wanna make the early train.”
That was reason enough. Erenville did not like goodbyes, and he was content heading back earlier than expected. It never took him long to get ready, getting the tea ready immediately and snacking on some bananas that Eheeya had in his pack from Tuliyollal. There was not much to say at this juncture; the excitement was gone. It was all winding down. The pair wordlessly assembled their things, Eheeya making small talk about their itinerary and saying that he’d be heading to see his mom once they got back into the dome. Erenville had nothing much to say. He had business to attend to, people to check in with. It did not need to be a long goodbye – the journey back would suffice. It had, thus far.
The sun still crawled out to bake the desert, though it wasn’t scorching hot as the pair arrived by rroneek to the train station. It wasn’t at the midday peak yet, and fortunately they would be in the cool safety of the train and the eternal levin of the dome by then. Still, Eheeya complained of wanting some prickly pear juice, the pair not having stopped very long in the settlement to allow him the pleasure of a drink.
The train came on schedule, and Eheeya immediately found a cool corner to curl up and work on his journal; Eheeya had gathered more photos and return ticket stubs to tuck into his journal, pausing to pluck some plants from nearby to press between the pages. Erenville snuck a few peeks at it, seeing pressed flowers, sketches, and even a drawing of himself reading a book. When had Eheeya started writing in this?
He did not want a long goodbye. But as the sky outside the train stopped being blue and alive, and filled with the levin of the dome, he knew it was time to get one out before Eheeya made a spectacle of it. Erenville reached across the table, holding out his hand.
Eheeya took it. Erenville pulled his hand away. “No, may I have your pen? I would like to write in your book. Just for your memories.”
Eheeya blinked, turning the journal towards Erenville and handing him the pen. “Oh, uh. Don’t read anything in there, it’s cringe.”
What? Erenville’s brow raised, but otherwise filled the blank page Eheeya had provided him. His script was long and flowing, a practised hand of someone who had to fill out formal reports for very particular administration. He wasn’t sure entirely what he wanted to say, but the man of few words was also a man of few written words.
It was when the train stopped and they disembarked that Erenville finally bowed his head slightly, wanting that to be it. He didn’t feel he needed to say much else – he’d been just a tour guide for a wealthy young man with plenty of local fame. Yet, Eheeya had that rectangle in his palm, and a smile on his face.
“Not yet. Will you smile with me this time, Erenville?”
He would. To contrast the start of their journey, this time Erenville had a tiny little quirk of his lips as he crowded into the mirrored frame, Eheeya’s eyes crinkling and sparkling with raw delight. As soon as the image took, capturing it in that electrope square, Eheeya slung an arm around Erenville’s neck and drew him in for a big, squeezing hug.
Erenville let it happen. It was just like Lamaty’i, but much less earned.
“Take care,” was all Eheeya said as Erenville pulled away, giving one final wave.
---
“I would like to travel out with you,” Sugar Riot replied as she read over Dancing Green’s travel journal.
“Great! That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. They got some festival going on out in Ul’dah right now, some cultural thing. Looks like it’ll be pretty fun! Just pack for the heat and a loooong trip, but they’ve got airships. It’ll be awesome.”
Dancing Green had been back in Solution 9 for a few days. The first two days in the dome had been spent visiting his mother in the outskirts, letting her read his journal and see his photos, and catching up with her. Upon his formal return from his journey, he had to let the Arcadion know he wasn’t on leave any longer, and have his manager start trying to triage the most important bookings for him to have. His life was back to business, and no longer relaxing and enjoying the life of a regular citizen.
He was tired. He was so, so tired.
But Sugar Riot was the second person he wanted to have some time with; his bestie would look over his journal and have interesting things to say. He wanted to share it all with her. She would not judge his cringe thoughts, his clumsy experiences, or how much joy he’d found in simply looking at the landscape. That was her exact thing, being a visual artist – inspiration and the beauty of the world. It let him re-live it all, through a second person’s perspective.
That, and he could not wait to be out travelling again. To be Eheeya, and not tied to his permanent kayfabe. No bookings, no late nights, no more drinking. Just him and a friend and some cool drinks on a hot night, dancing with the locals.
“Erenville is your guide, right?” Sugar Riot flipped to the ending sections. The script on the pages changed from Dancing Green’s sloppy handwriting to elegant, finely spaced calligraphy. “Must not have been that out of the usual for him, then.”
Sandwiched between Dancing Green’s thoughts on the train and his thoughts after visiting his mother, was a single page not written by him. On it read something Eheeya wanted to keep with him, especially when he went travelling further, and farther out. It was written partially in the Shetona language, the one his mother had taught him – the one he needed his mother to help him remember during their visit.
Eheeya,
The world is too big to stay in one place.
Shetona men have traditionally left and wandered, starting families as they go. I never met my father, but you met yours.
Which would you rather be: someone who just hangs around bars, or out there seeing the world?
Do not let Alexandria and your job destroy you.
I hope to see you again, some day, out on the road. Bring me some interesting stories.
- Erenville
