Chapter Text
“So the leader of the Sinners appears to guide his flock into the arms of the Righteous!”
Broken, weary, tearful...All eyes instantly turned towards the robed figure amongst the crowd. His stature was calm...face neutral...Yet the white-knuckled grip on his staff revealed the fury that smoldered in his heart.
The scent of ozone lingered as Lyna watched her Grandfather move in front of everyone present, even as the rain soaked his robes.
“Vauthry!” His tone was rich and commanding, carrying across the silent fort on the cold winds; gone was the gentle caretaker of the Crystarium. In his place stood a Ruler who had seen the world undone at the seams...and proudly helped to carry the flame of hope that endured. “Did I not offer you the chance to lay down your arms so that we could push back the Sin Eaters once before? You have thrown the gauntlet with your refusal! With this unjust attack of innocents and soldiers, you have laid a blood-soaked sword at our feet!”
“UNJUST?!” The Ruler of Eulmore allowed his voice to crack in his fury. “It is you who are unjust in your choices! I had offered you paradise and you spit on that! You could have survived your remaining days in bliss had you only submitted!”
“Submit? To become fodder? To become servants or slaves to your every whim whilst you wallow away in bloated decadence and pleasure?”
Thunder rumbled across the skies as Y’shtola glanced heavensward, eyes growing wide at something only she could see-
“We have to get everyone inside.”
All eyes turned towards her, Urianger following her gaze as the clouds above grew darker with azure lightning flickering into existence. His own eyes widened at the coming storm as others caught onto the danger. Aided by the able-bodied, the soldier and Scions quickly managed to get everyone into nearby shelters.
Lyna winced as she leaned on G’raha’s shoulder whilst watching from the barracks. “What- What is he doing?”
“Defilers! Interlopers!” Vauthry was throwing a literal temper tantrum as insult after insult was thrown about...even as more sin eaters appeared from the woods and in the skies around them. “You will be an example then! My sin eaters will tear you apart bit by bit, slowly and painfully!” The eaters themselves screeched as they hovered closer to such a rich source of aether, oblivious to the gem in his staff starting to glow that same azure hue.
Inside, G’raha felt his ears perk as one rumble of thunder sounded distinctly draconic...the gusts of wind carrying the sounds of wings…
“He’s...Calling-”
Sahar smiled and raised his staff as a lock in his heart shattered, the sensation of power and lust for battle overflowing-
Several sin eaters suddenly turned wary, ceasing in their hovering...Twas as if they were nervous...that something was coming-
“What are you waiting for?! KILL HIM!”
Yet their master’s command would override natural, base instinct as they rushed as one towards the crystal figure-
A smile touched his lips as a single word fell into the air, even as white beasts of all shapes and sizes overwhelmed him-
The guards and Scions cried out in horror from their shelter-
“Bahamut.”
All were forced to look away as azure fire exploded from the heavens, the scent of burning hide and feathers overwhelming the cooling aromas of rain and wind as burning eaters faded to harmless ash. Embers drifted in a mockery of crystal shards as they danced with flakes of ash, caressing the Exarch as he lowered his staff to the ground.
“Murder! You destroyed my sin eaters!”
Sahar looked up in the direction of the voice, an almost devilish expression appearing on his face at those words. “Oh...not I, ‘Lord Vauthry’.” A wrapped hand pointed to the heavens. “He did.”
“What-” Razor talons suddenly appeared from the rolling clouds to grab at the airship, the massive crack of wood and steel was a man-made mockery of a storms’ natural call as the others quickly retreated several paces.
“What is this?!”
Broad wings that spanned Lakeland itself parted the cover as golden eyes narrowed at the remaining airships, talons flexing in his desire whilst azure flames flickered in that deadly maw.
“A protector, a comrade, my Lord.”
His staff began to glow as it was raised once more, Bahamut bellowing his fury to the bloated mortals who dare harm those under His protection.
“Monster….” Vauthry’s voice quivered. “Demon….”
“Nay...He is no monster.” A pause. “In legends, he was known as the Dreadwyrm. To us?”
Another smile as the scent of ozone filled the skies, fire and lightning gathering as bright as the sun itself.
“He is the Dawn Wyrm.”