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Chapter Text

Lilia had always known she wasn't worth much. She was disposable. The fact that her parents sold her to a Hyur family at just five years old was proof of that. She looked around her room, luxurious by anyone's standards, and sighed. She asked herself for the millionth time if a journey of self-discovery was worth leaving the safety of this room, this mansion, and venturing forth into a world of danger.

She steeled herself, knowing of course it was, and hauled the makeshift bindle onto her shoulder. The Cantrells could afford to replace the bedding. And the food she had stolen. And the precious porcelain doll she couldn't convince herself to leave behind. The window was opened wide, letting in the refreshingly cool breeze. It was the heat of summer, and only now at the height of midnight had the air cooled off. Anything but the coldest of winters was too warm for Lilia, being of the Veena clan, but at the same time, she treasured the warmth of the sun. It was the one thing that connected her to the outside world.

With a running start, Lilia leapt out the window and into the garden below. Then she waited, her heart thudding in her ears, as she prayed no one had heard the loud thud and soft stumble of her large feet hitting the ground. That was how she had gotten caught the only other time she tried escape, three years ago when she was no longer a kit but a fresh adult. When she was convinced no footsteps were approaching her, she bolted for the fence line. She was never allowed this close to the fence, to the essence of freedom that lay just beyond it. She jumped as high as she could, her tucked legs just barely passing over the fence at the apex of her leap, and landed on the other side. She had done it. She was past the fence. She was past the fence, and she would never sing to the Cantrells again.

She ran through the woods, and though fallen branches and thorns pierced at her feet, she paid them no mind. She would develop callouses soon enough. She, Lilia Softfoot, would develop callouses! The Mist seemed to rejoice with her as she sprinted farther and farther away from the Cantrell house.

Still...when she finally stopped to catch her breath, she had to acknowledge she would never get far enough away on foot. The Cantrells would look for her. She was simply an instrument, replaceable, but to the Cantrells she was a fine instrument that they had made a pretty investment on. The forested area around the mansion was less than expansive. She would reach the city soon enough, and while not everyone in Ul'dah wished for her to remain in their home, anyone in Ul'dah would welcome the reward money they would likely offer for her safe return. 

If she could get as far away as Gridania, she would be safe. Lilia had heard plenty of stories about the Gridanian's distrust of strangers. If she ingratiated herself to them, they would protect her. By the hells, if she worked hard enough as an adventurer there, she might not even need them to protect her.

She tried to recall the maps of Ul'dah from Asvard's atlases. Those were the ones she paid most attention to as her escape relied on getting out of the city-state safely. Ul'dah was essentially a wheel with a central hub. That hub was treacherous to her, but if she stayed around the edge of the wheel, she might be able to find a wagon driver willing to give her a ride now that they had no wares to peddle within the walls.

Regardless of how she would get away from Ul'dah, it wouldn't be happening under the supervision of the full moon. She resolved to get within sight of the wall by morning and resumed her trek. She did not, however, consider the fact that she had never been in these woods. The moon's light was reassuring, but it could not guide her to Ul'dah, which she was currently walking away from.

After three befuddling days and half her food, Lilia found the wall. Several feet separated it and the smattering of trees she was hiding in. She nearly burst into tears at the sight of it. Every moment until then had been full of fear. The Cantrells could have tracked her down at any moment. Now, with the wall in sight, that threat didn't disappear, but it loosened its hold on her chest.

Now that she was able to keep the wall and exiting road in sight, Lilia kept to the tree line as she put some distance between herself and Ul'dah. Hitching a ride too close to the wall could prove disastrous. There weren't many Viera within the city-state, judging by how excited little Dorte became every time she saw one. The child would prattle on for ages about it, asking Lilia if she knew Vare or Zoya or whatever this one's name was as if Lilia hadn't been secluded to the house since before her birth.

Lilia found a mossy place to sit and watch the road while she waited for a wagon. If she spotted something that looked too fancy, she would roll deeper into the brush until they passed. She fiddled with the tie on her brindle, wondering if she should eat a little more or save her food. She had seen berries a little ways back, but she had no way of knowing if they were safe.

She hadn't needed to worry, however, as a wagon soon approached from Ul'dah. She stood, waving hugely in a way that could get Sigmund scolded by his mother for "acting like a bumpkin." The driver waved in return. When he pulled the wagon to a stop, he said, "Good morrow, miss! It isn't often we see Viera here."

"And you won't be seeing me here again, provided I can lean on your aid," she replied. She knew the smile on her face was ridiculously huge, but she was so close to freedom now! "I was hoping I could travel with you for a time."

"Possibly." He took off his hat and wiped a brawny arm across his sweat-dappled brow. "Where might you be headed?"

"Gridania, if it please you."

"I'll admit it does. I happen to be headed there myself. I have some shipments to pick up along the way, of course."

"I'll help you load!" she offered, perhaps too excitedly. "And unload, too, once we're there."

He laughed, and it made the corners of his green eyes crinkle. His brown skin was warm, and between that and the broadness of his shoulders, Lilia felt like his entire being was inviting a hug. "Very well, then. Climb into the back. I'll share my lunch if you provide me with some company."

"Oh, I would be happy to! Thank you, thank you!"

He laughed again, rubbing his hand over his dark beard sprinkled with silver. "My name is Maerec. What about yours?"

"Lilia," she replied without thinking. Before she could worry enough to regret it, Maerec stirred the chocobos back into their walk. She happily accepted the bread and cheese he handed back to her.

"What brings you to Gridania? Not many outsiders travel there."

"A cousin." She felt poorly for the fib, and so she provided a bit of the truth. "I've always wanted to travel."

"Well, I hope this cousin can reassure the neighbors that you aren't there to destroy the Twelveswood or some nonsense. I never stay longer than I have to, myself."

Maerec was wonderful to talk to, and as much as he griped about Gridania, Lilia suspected he was as eager to make the journey as she was. His profession seemed to be picking up shipments that were left behind at one place and taking it to the next. Once he had made his way up to Ishgard, he would turn around and do it all over again. As a result, Lilia was involved in more loading and unloading than she had bargained for, but she didn't complain. Although the work slowed them down, it was still faster than she could consistently travel on foot. 

Poor Maerec did worry about the state of her feet, at one point offering to purchase her a pair of shoes.

"Please don't trouble yourself," she reassured him. "Viera with feet more like yours wear shoes, but as my feet are more similar to a rabbit's, I don't need them."

Which, of course, would have been true if it weren't for her pampered imprisonment. As it were, her feet ached and were covered in scratches. Regardless, Maerec was already doing her a favor and provided her with more than enough food beside. She wasn't about to let him spend any of his gil on her.

Two stops before their destination, Maerec found that some other cart had swooped in and picked up the cargo he was there for. He cursed his luck until a pair of Elezen twins offered to pay him for a ride to Gridania. Lilia exchanged pleasantries with them, but all together the four of them were quite tired. Maerec decided to drive on through the night to avoid the same fate at his next stop, but Lilia and the twins dozed in the back.

Lilia didn't usually dream. She had always felt as though dreams were beyond her reach. Maybe when she found her worth, she reasoned, she would dream. However, she had yet to accomplish anything, and she was now in a dark, dark place, surrounded by...stars?...and her feet did not touch the ground. She spun downward, downward, with crystals sparkling about her as though they were originated from her skin. She touched one with the tip of her finger, and it made a sound like toasting glasses as it rebounded of off the others.

Her feet finally touched ground like the first fresh raindrop striking a pond. A voice was speaking to her, but she couldn't place where it was coming from or who it could be.

"Hear..."

"Y-yes, I hear you!" She reached out into the darkness, hoping to at least touch fingertips with the person. Instead, a small sphere of brilliant white light appeared in front of her.

"Hear...feel..."

Before she could touch it, a dark orb took its place. A figured stepped out from it, wrapped in dark robes and wearing a red mask. She could not see their eyes, but their smile twisted her stomach.

The light shifted around the figure, shining a little brighter as though to reassure her.

"Hear...feel...think..."

Lilia steeled herself. When had she ever been allowed to think for herself? Something about this red-masked being made her feel that they didn't want her to think for herself any more than the Cantrells' did. A light held her close, and the warmth it gave left altogether too quickly. In place of the clothes she had stolen from the gardener were white robes, exquisitely stitched and cared for. The dark being didn't speak, but they also didn't turn away from her. The light flared again, but this time it clung to a staff. It felt like it belonged in her hands, more than anything else she had ever held. 

This person was not going to take her journey from her. They were not going to take anyone's journey from them. She readied herself, falling into a battle stance as though she had been raised to defend instead of to sing. The being's smile widened into a toothy grin that then spread too wide as they opened their mouth. They, too, prepare to battle.

She nearly loosed a spell when a horrendous noise distracted her, and then...

"Oi!"

Sitting up with a start, Lilia looked about. The twins were still on the wagon, sleeping soundly, and across from her was a man she didn't recognize. His skin was tan, certainly not as dark as Maerec's, and he had a blond beard and mustache. His hair was completely covered by his hat, and he was dressed in plain but well-cared-for traveling clothes.

"Y'alright, lass?" he asked, leaning close to get a better look at her. "You were moanin' in your sleep, an' sweatin' buckets besides. That'll be the aether, I reckon. Some are more prone to sickness than others."

The Mist? But Lilia had never once experienced Mist-sickness, even when she was very small. Even now, the Mist held her like an embrace.

The stranger mistook her confusion for concern. “No need to fret, though. You’ll soon get used to it.”

She didn’t have the chance to answer him before she heard a small horn sounding. Two small, round creatures with red-orange orbs bobbing atop of an antenna fluttered close behind their wagon.

One of them put a hand to their face as they peered at Lilia in worry. “Feeling better, kupo?”

The second brightened when she opened her mouth to answer and quickly interjected, “Aha! You can see us! I had a feeling you could, kupo!”

“We’re moogles, and we live in this wood.”

The interrupting moogle flew into the cart, wiggling their furry behind at the stranger. “Normal folks can’t see or hear us—which makes you special, kupo!” they said.

“That’s vulgar,” she chastised.

The man raised an eyebrow, distracted from his investigation of the wine skein he found. “Pardon?”

“Nothing!”

“And seeing as how you’re special, maybe you can tell us something,” the moogle with the horn said, stifling a laugh. “The wood’s been restless of late—lots of strange things happening. Have you chanced to witness anything suspicious, kupo?”

Lilia hesitated, torn between not appearing addle-minded to the stranger and scolding the dancing moogle, who was now guzzling down a bottle of alcohol the stranger hadn’t noticed. Finally, she settled on shaking her head.

“But of course you haven’t—you’ve only just arrived.” The moogle sighed. “Well, there’s nothing for it, then—we’ll just have to keep looking. Nice to meet you, kupo!”

The two flew away to join their fellows further back along the road. They seemed deep in discussion. Meanwhile, the stranger picked up the bottle, took in a fragrant sniff, and then tried to drink. He frowned, confused and disappointed, and looked back to Lilia.

“Gridania's still a fair way off, in case you were wonderin'. Seein' as you're awake, how's about you keep me company till we get there? Them young'uns don't much care for conversation, see.”

“I think I can do that, ser.” She smiled, and she hoped he couldn’t tell how distracted she was.

“Bremondt's the name, an' peddlin's me trade,” he said, opening his arms wide. “As for your good self, judgin' by your unusual garments, I'd say you were one of them new adventurers. Am I warm?”

What was so unusual about her dress? They were commoner’s clothes, after all. “I am, ser. My name is Lilia.” She pulled at the hem of her sleeve. She supposed they did fit better on someone with a shorter frame.

“I knew it! Goin' wherever the wind blows, seekin' fortune an' glory─now that's what I call livin'!” He winked. “So long as you can avoid dyin', I mean. Ain't no secret that adventurin's a risky business─these days especially. What was it that first attracted you to it? Why did you become an adventurer?”

Lilia was at a loss for words. She didn’t want to start her new life lying left and right—the lie to Maerec felt terrible enough—but she couldn’t tell this man her life story.

“Well, if you ain't inclined to tell, I ain't about to pry. Might be as ol' Bremondt's a chatterbox, but he sure as hells ain't no busybody. We all have a secret or three, don't we? Me? Dozens.” He stretched, and Lilia heard the popping of several joints. “An' I'd rather they stayed secret, too─which is why I don't go stickin' me nose where it ain't welcome. Just remember, though: there're more important things than fortune an' glory. Such as breathin'. Ain't no profit in bein' dead, an' that's a fact.”

“Halt! Go no further!”

A man with a wooden mask approached their wagon. The way it obscured his eyes completely made Lilia uneasy.

“What’s this, then?” Bermondt said, starting to stand.

“Look out!” Lilia hooked one of her feet behind his ankle and pulled hard. The arrow whizzed past where he had been moments before and embedded itself into the wagon floor. “Looks like they have a reason to stop us.”

“What’s going on?” Maerec demanded.

“A skirmish has broken out up ahead with the Ixal! For your own safety, you must remain here until─”

A shout came from up the road as two Elezen women in similar masks were forced back by two creatures bearing horns and toothy beaks. Their feathers glistened in the sunlight.

“Bloody hells! We shall hold them here! Try to break clear!”

Maerec didn’t need to be told twice. He drove the chocobos forward, and Lilia only just saw one of the strangely beautiful creatures fall to a lance thrust. She put a hand to her lips, feeling slightly ill. The twins exchanged looks, now just awake as the rest of them, but said nothing.

“That was too bleedin' close…” Bremondt said as he pulled the arrow free. “Nice of the Ixal to send us a welcomin' party, though, eh? Jokin' aside, this won't be the last time you meet those feathered fiends, so just you take care, all right? By the by, is this your first trip to Gridania?”

“It is,” she managed, swallowing hard to collect herself.

“It is!? Well then, let this journeyed itinerant tell you the ins an' outs of your destination. The city of Gridania lies slap-bang in the middle of the Black Shroud─the biggest, lushest forest in all Eorzea. Though it ain't near as lush as it used to be, sayin' that. Not since the Calamity laid half of it to waste. The destruction prompted a herd of new nasties to move in, an' gave the Ixal unneeded encouragement. Birdman raids've become a daily occurrence.” He grinned and gestured toward the gate ahead. “Ah, at long last. Behold Gridania, the forest nation blessed by the elementals!”

Chapter Text

"Well, well, what have we here?" The proprietor of the Carline Canopy, an Elezen woman with dark-silver hair and golden eyes asked. She didn't say it unkindly, unlike the brusque men that had directed Lilia here. "A wide-eyed and wondering young adventurer, come to put your name down at the guild, I assume?"

"Yes, ma'am." Lilia didn't know what to expect of an inn, but this one felt immense and grand to her. She was small within it, and she wondered not for the first time if she had made the right decision.

"'Ma'am' is hardly necessary," she said, waving off the word like a gnat. "Welcome. Miounne's my name, or Mother Miounne as most call me, and the Carline Canopy is my place."

Mother. Lilia hadn't had anyone to call Mother since she was sold to the Cantrells, and if this woman was willing to be Mother to anyone who walked in her doors, even a clumsy Viera like herself, she was going to protect her as fiercely as possible.

"As the head of the Adventurers' Guild in Gridania, I have the honor of providing guidance to the fledgling heroes who pass through our gates. No matter your ambitions, the guild is here to help you attain them. In return, we expect you to fulfill your duties as an adventurer by assisting the people of Gridania. A fine deal, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, Mother."

Miounne smiled, a balm on her soul that Lilia didn't know she needed. She provided more detail about how the guild worked and helped her get registered. Lilia even managed to make her laugh before a group of warriors came in. They wore similar masks to those they met on the road; wood, with holes so small that it was nigh impossible to see their eyes.

"Look at what just arrived─another godsdamned adventurer..." The leader of the trio said it with venom in his voice.

Miounne crossed her arms. her brow furrowed in a stern frown. "Don't you start with that. Adventurers are the very salve that Gridania needs. The Elder Seedseer herself bade us welcome them with open arms. Do you mean to disregard her will?"

"Of course not! Lest you forget, it is my sworn duty to uphold the peace! Am I to blame if outsiders bring mistrust upon themselves?" The fellow jabbed a finger in Lilia's chest. "You─adventurer! Mind that you do not cause any trouble here, or I shall personally cast you out of this realm and into the seventh hell."

"Unexpected advice from someone who hides their eyes," she replied coolly as she swatted his hand away. "Trust me, causing trouble is not my business, and even if it were, you couldn't catch me."

While Miounne tried to be subtle and hide her laughter behind her palm, one of the man's compatriots was not so polite. He chortled and thumped the leader on the shoulder. "She sure set you straight!"

He turned what Lilia had to assume was a glare at his companions before the three of them left.

"Ahem. Pay that outburst no mind. He meant only to...counsel you. Suspicious characters have been prowling the Twelveswood of late, you see, and the Wood Wailers feel they cannot afford to take any chances. As is often the way with folk who live in isolation, Gridanians are wont to mistrust things they do not well know, your good self included."  Miounne gave her a warm, reassuring smile. Again, Lilia knew she would die for this woman. "Fear not, however─given a catalog of exemplary deeds, and no more than a handful of years, the locals will surely warm to you. On behalf of my fellow citizens, I welcome you to Gridania. May you come to consider our nation as your own in time. Now then, you may depend on old Mother Miounne to teach you a few things that every adventurer should know."

"Yes, Mother. Thank you."

Lilia quickly put her mind to being as helpful as physically possible. It wasn't hard. There was plenty to do in Gridania and the surrounding Shrouds. The only tasks she avoided were those to do with the Ixal. It seemed most often the Gridanians wanted them disposed of like pests, and it didn't sit well with her. If she looked slightly less like an Elezen or Hyur, would the same venom be turned against her? Instead, she gave them a wide berth when she saw them, sometimes sitting and observing from behind a tree. They were just people. They had friends and enemies and wants and needs like anyone else. Why should they be beat back to the shadows?

And yet, they were constantly at odds with the Gridanians. They pushed further and further out of their own territory into ancestral land. Even so, stories from the Wood Wailers and the Quivermen said they were quickly sent back into their own lands. Their efforts seemed half-hearted and enthusiastic by turns, as if they didn't agree or were unsure. In any case, none of her observation led her to believe they were the ones coming up with these schemes. It was hard to ask Yda and Papalymo about it as they simply appeared at the strangest times and disappeared when it pleased them. Either way, she was resolved to stay out of it.

She was until Miounne told her the Guardian Tree was in danger. 

"Time is of the essence, so I shall speak plain," Not even the normal twinkle of kindness in her eyes softened the seriousness of her words. "Based on Luquelot's observations, the Ixal have designs on the Guardian Tree, and they mean to act soon. The tree is the oldest living thing in this ancient forest, and it is held sacred by every forestborn Gridanian. Should it come to any harm, the elementals would fly into a rage beyond pacifying. I dread to think of the chaos that would ensue. There isn't much time. We must act quickly."

"I don't understand," Lilia protested, discomfort roiling in her belly. "What motivation would they have to do that? Surely they don't want the elementals angry either."

"We don't have the luxury of time to deliberate on their motivations." She took her by the hands, and Lilia's heart sank. This wasn't ending well. "Lilia, please see this letter to the hands of Bowlord Lewin, at the Seat of the First Bow in Quiver's Hold. Should the need arise, pray put yourself wholly at the man's disposal. I strongly suspect he will need all the able-bodied souls he can muster. The fate of Gridania hangs in the balance. Go swiftly,"

Lilia swallowed hard. "Yes, Mother."

She ran, and she ran hard. Even without Miounne's explanation, she knew the importance of the Guardian Tree. Every Gridanian she had heard speak of it did so in hushed tones, reverent and full of love. Even if the elementals' anger wasn't a danger, she would want to save it. Despite their initial mistrust, the Gridanians had been kind to her. She was convinced they would protect her if she needed. She was determined to protect them.

She didn't stop running until she was in Bowlord Lewin's chamber, not even pausing for the guard posted outside his door. Lewin raised an eyebrow as she burst in and waved off the protesting guard.

"So you are Lilia Softfoot, the adventurer of whom I have heard so much." He gestured toward the closing door. "I understand you wish words with me."

Lilia struggled to speak, only partially because she was out of breath. Although his mask and hat covered the upper half of his head, she could peek soft, dark hair and eyes the color of loam that were sharply offset by the pale of his skin. Finally, she managed, "Mother Miounne...Ixal...threat."

"Miounne has information on the Ixal, you say? Speak freely─you have both my ears."

She stood straight, trying to at least appear official. "I-I would rather she tell you in her own words," she said, handing him the letter. Lilia was biased toward the Gridanians, but she didn't want her sympathy for the Ixal to alter Miounne's words.

"...Matron forfend! They mean to defile the Guardian Tree?" He crossed his arms, one hand clutching the letter until it crumpled. Lilia had only ever seen him at a distance before today, but she was certain she had never seen him so angry. "Before Nophica, I swear those filthy birdmen will not touch it─nay, not so much as a single leaf!"

"Bowlord, please. This very attitude could be the cause of the Ixals' vitriol." Lilia was surprised to hear the words come out of her mouth. He was so pretty, and normally her shyness would bar her from speaking. Still, they were true. "If we could try opening a line of communication--"

"Twelve help me! How can it be that neither the Wood Wailers nor the Gods' Quiver caught wind of this?" he continued as though he hadn't heard her. He poured through the many papers on his desk, hoping to find the answer. "I cannot help but think this plot bears the mark of the masked devil who has eluded us for so long. We must be wary─this incursion may be more than it seems. Ah, would that the Warriors of Light were still with us...But this is no time for such idle thoughts. I thank you for delivering this message. You may assure Miounne that I will dispatch a unit of my best men to investi─"

Lilia scarcely heard the protests of the guard outside before another bowman burst into the room. "My lord!" He had dark grey hair similar to Miounne's. He, like Lilia moments before, struggled to catch his breath from exertion. 

"What is it?" Lewin demanded as he rounded the desk. The letter was still clutched in his hand, but his fingers moved ceaselessly, causing it to become smaller and smaller. "Speak, man!"

"It's the Ixal, sir! The Ixal have amassed at the Guardian Tree!"

"Already!? Bloody hells... " Lewin pulled off his hat only long enough to rake a hand through his hair. "Lilia─Miounne believes you capable, and I can think of no better judge than she. Lend us your strength this day─aid in the defense of the Guardian Tree!"

"Of course I will." It was a promise she intended to keep...if worse came to worse.

Lewin gave her her orders--he would not be joining them immediately. As soon as he was finished, she was off again. Running, yes, but paced. She knew she needed to be prepared for battle immediately upon arrival if it was necessary, as much as she hoped and prayed it wouldn't be. She only slowed slightly when she was close to ensure her footfalls were silent. She almost ruined that effect by tripping as she saw the bowmen. She stumbled bodily into one of the leaders, who caught her with a smile. It nearly distracted her from the chanting she could hear around the tree.

"The Bowlord sent you, yes?" His grin widened when she nodded. "Good to have you with us! The birdmen have completely surrounded the Guardian Tree, and their calls grow more urgent by the minute. Whatever it is they mean to do, we cannot let them go through with it. They must be stopped, no matter the cost!"

"I agree with you, ser, but can we try speaking with them? Please?"

"You are an outsider, yes?" Despite his lack of malice, the word stung. "They will not listen to reason. I promise you."

Lilia straightened and squared her shoulders. "I have to try."

"Miss Softfoot...!" The warning was a harsh whisper as she strode out from behind their hiding place.

Although this was risky, she prayed she was doing the right thing. The Ixal had no way of knowing she wasn't alone, and even if they assumed, they could not account for the number of men Lewin and Swethyna had funneled to this area. Regardless, she had to try.

"Stop!"

One of the Ixal, the chieftain judging by his bright plumage and glittering decoration, turned an eye to her. The others waited for his command, although some inched closer to her.

"Please, stop." She hadn't planned this far through. She should have been more involved with the Ixal before now. In her desperation to not be involved, she had alienated herself from them. They had no reason to trust her. "The Guardian Tree is of great importance to the Gridanians and to the elementals of this forest. If we have angered you, please let us make it right. We can work to benefit the forest together!"

The chieftain clacked his beak excitedly. The sun caught the polished surface, and again she marveled at their strange beauty. He let out a cry, demanding the attention of those who weren't chanting. "Attend me, all! To us, this forest, Tinolqa, belongs!"

The surrounding Ixals let out a cheer, and Lilia longed to reach for her staff. Still, she could stop this. Or if she couldn't, she could buy the Bowmen and the Serpents more time to prepare. She didn't move.

"The Gridanians also have an ancestral claim to this forest! You both want what's best for it!" She took two steps forward, arms open and pleading. "We don't have to be at odds!"

"Wisdom of Paragons, we possess! To our former glory, restore us it will! From this tree, a great crystal we take! Unto Garuda, an offering we shall make!" He pointed to Lilia, and though her heart pounded, she still did not reach for her staff. "Unfeathered ones and elementals, banish we shall! Our ancient home, reclaim we will!"

The cheer went up again, and several Ixals rushed toward her. The bowman had been right. There was no hope in this conversation. She drew her staff, too late, when an arrow whizzed past her shoulder and struck the Ixal closest to her. She was able to cast stone on her before she retreated further back to make best use of her range and keep an eye on her companions.

The battle was long and difficult, possibly moreso to Lilia than the others. They had crossed blades and propeled arrows with the Ixal before. Because Lilia had avoided it, her heart remained in her throat, and her stomach remained on the ground. She focused her efforts on healing, but she, like other conjurers there, had to do damage where they were able. Unlike the other conjurers there, she did her best to only knock them unconscious.

When it was finally over, Lilia fell to her knees and became ill. She had killed before, beasts for sustenance and population control, but this was different. Her only comfort was that nature had never once hesitated to provide her with the power she needed to fight and heal.

The bowman who had caught her earlier crouched next to her with a peace offering: a handkerchief. "Impressive work, adventurer. The Bowlord bids you hold this position. Enemies may yet lurk near, so stay on your guard. We go to bolster the left flank, where the battle yet rages."

She nodded weakly as he helped her to her feet. He didn't balk as she cleaned the vomit from her chin. "I'll return this to you later," she promised.

He gave her a sympathetic smile as he walked backwards. "It gets easier. I promise."

Before she could protest: she didn't want it to get easier, he turned and ran to join the left flank.

She sighed at his back. She knew he meant well, but she didn't want to be comfortable with killing men, beastmen or not. She walked around the Guardian Tree, checking it for wounds, but it was thankfully unmarred. Then she hesitated and walked around the tree again until she found the source of a disturbance so palpable she felt it in her chest, in her heart. She reached out to where it centered on a knot in the tree, hoping to resolve it, but she was blown back several feet before a masked, dark-robed figure appeared. He wasn't the same as the one in her vision, of that much she was certain. Still, the strange was Mist twisted through and around him was similar. She was instantly on her guard.

"The source of her strength becomes clear..." Her mind became sharp as the voice stirred her memory. She didn't need his next words to place him. "You may have bested the golem, but you will not fare so well this day."

A red glyph shimmered into existence over his mask, and dark energy surrounded him. His next words were lost through the blood surging through her ears. It was him. He was the one who stirred the Ixals into attacking. He was the cause for so much loss of life.

"How could you?" she screamed. Her voice tore harshly through her throat, a sensation she had never before experienced. "How could you?"

"You cannot hope to understand," he said blithely. "In any case, your very being imperils the plan. You cannot be suffered to live."

"I would say the same of you!" She stormed forward, but the masked mage had finished his spellwork. A tall, broadly muscled creature with leathery wings and a tail appeared between them. "You're a coward!"

She was forced back as the creature slashed at her viciously. Clearly she would have to get past the beast to reach the mage, but she was fine with that. Slaughtering the Ixal felt like a crime, but this battle felt like weeding out a corruption. That was something she was good at. She heard the mage's taunts as she hurled spell after spell at his bodyguard, but she didn't process them. She didn't need to. Her end goal was the same: apprehend him or snuff him out, whichever was easier.

End goal in mind or not, this creature was a difficult foe. He moved nearly as fast as she did, and her own innate clumsiness gave him the upper hand from time to time. It was that same clumsiness that almost cost her her life as she tumbled backward. The beast readied to use its tail.

The masked mage cackled, ecstatic. "Writhe! Writhe as the venom eats its way through your veins!"

She managed to cast stone just before the tail struck her, sending the creature of balance long enough to get to her feet.

"No! How is this possible?"

"I trust you won't object to our assistance!" She didn't have to turn to recognize his voice. Papalymo hurried to her side as fast as his little legs could carry him.

Yda joined her at her opposite side. "Looks like you could do with a hand!"

Together, they pushed the monstrosity back. When she was assured that the two of them could handle the already-weakened beast, she flung an aero at it and charged for the masked mage. Having her friends by her side invigorated her, and she would not allow this poor excuse of a man to further corrupt her home.

"Whence comes your strength?" he demanded as they traded spells. He was slower than she, likely why he had hidden behind summons before. "Who are you?"

In the end, it wasn't a spell but a sharp blow from her staff that sent him. He looked puzzled as his eyes fluttered behind the glyphed mask. "That the wisdom of the Paragons should be brought low...by mere mortals..." The glyph flickered and vanished as he collasped.

Though she turned to help Yda and Papalymo, they swiftly dispatched the creature without her. Papalymo turned to her, a stern expression on his face. "...Paragons?"

Lilia blinked, uncertain if the question was directed at her, when Yda answered, "That's what I heard."

"The Bringers of Chaos...or Ascians, to give them their proper name." He nudged the fallen mage with his foot. "It would seem our suspicions were correct-─it is they who have been manipulating the beast tribes.”

"But who are they? Why are they doing this?" Lilia asked.

"Lilia, are you unharmed!?"

"Nothing that a bit of help from nature can't fix," she said with a wince. She had done something to her shoulder. There hadn't exactly been time to stretch.

"Had I known this creature was near, I would have sent men, not called them away!" He motioned for some of the Serpents' healers. "There was no reason for you to handle something so treacherous alone."

Touched by his concern, she managed a smile. "I'm quite alright, Bowlord. Ultimately, I wasn't alone. Papalymo and Yda came to my rescue."

"She hardly needed it!" Yda protested playfully. It made Lilia's heart skip a beat, and she blushed while she tried to avoid peeking at her exposed thighs and that tiny triangle of stomach. "This beastie was nearly slain by the time we arrived!"

"I don't think that's accurate," Lilia mumbled.

"There is no mistake, sir─" said a bowman kneeling next to the mage's head, "he is the one who stirred the Ixal from their nest. Our intelligence was reliable."

"So this is the man who has eluded us for so long?" Lewin's voice was a mixture of irritation and respect.

"Right!" Yda elbowed Lilia, determined to give her at least the majority of the credit. "We finally got him!"

"We sensed an ominous presence and came here as swiftly as our legs would carry us," Papalymo added. He examined the man with his strange spectacles.

"Well, it's good to know what we're up against, anyway." Yda dusted off her blouse slightly, loose gravel falling to the forest floor.

"Quite." Still, the Bowlord seemed dissatisfied. Lilia couldn't disagree. "Well, my thanks as ever, friends. Quivermen, move out!"

Lilia watched them go, carrying the masked mage with them. Likely, she wouldn't get a chance to interrogate him herself. She certainly wasn't trained for such things; although, she had recently done quite a few things she wasn't trained for. There was something about the moment in which he fell that was uncharacteristic of him. Of course, one could argue that there's nothing characteristic about falling unconscious, but...

"Hmmm...you're probably wondering why we always seem to appear when there's trouble, right?" Yda elbowed Lilia again, gentler this time.  

"I'll admit the thought did cross my mind," she said, trying to hide her blush and failing miserably. No one would ever take her seriously if she always got flustered around beautiful men and women.

"Well, trust me when I tell you that it's almost never our fault. Despite what it looks like, Papalymo and I are actually helping the Gridanians. And we've been doing so for a good few years, too. Oh!" She brightened, something just occurring to her. "Did I mention that we're not from around here? Just like you!"

"Shaylayans, right?"

"Hm? Why, yes, we are Sharlayans! However did you know?"

Lilia did her best to shrug it off. "A feeling." She noticed Papalymo studying her and checked her face and clothing for debris.

"So I wasn't mistaken..." he murmured.

"Mistaken? About what?" Yda pried. Lilia waited alongside her, equally curious.

Papalymo shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"Awww! You always do that!" Yda said, displaying her frustration with her arm movements. "Mumble something loaded with meaning, only to keep it to yourself when someone asks! It's unfair! And it's especially unfair when the someone is me!"

Lilia tried to keep a grin off her face, mostly because she wanted to know what he was mumbling about. "It's a terrible habit, Papalymo."

"Oh, do calm down," he said to Yda. Then he whispered, although Lilia's long ears could still hear, "I'll tell you later."

"Hmph! I bet you won't." She crossed her arms but then broke into a smile. "Anyway, all's well that ends well."

"...Quite. We'd best be on our way." Papalymo started off in the general direction of the nearest village.

Lilia huffed, certain now that she would never find out whatever Papalymo was muttering about. She suddenly had a great deal more empathy for Yda, and when she looked at her, she saw that empathy reflected back.

Yda shrugged, not quite excusing him but acknowledging the silliness of it. "See you later!" she said and ran after him.

Lilia almost ran after them herself, but despite the healing she had received--from six other healers, as if she couldn't had done it herself--she was too exhausted to try to match wits with Papalymo. Instead, she nestled herself into the roots of the Guardian tree. The embrace of the rough bark and warm sun felt nurturing, and she took a nap to the sound of birdsong.

Chapter Text

The next two days were a whirlwind. The Elder Seedseer had requested that she be the Emissary in the Greenbliss Festival. Lilia wanted nothing less than all those people looking at her, but she could hardly say no when the Elder Seedseer had asked for her specifically. The ceremony itself seemed to go on too long and end too quickly for her to collect her thoughts. Just as she considered running to her room at the Carline and never coming out, Kan-E-Senna reached out and took her hand.

"This radiance..." Her fingers traced Lilia's palm, and her eyes traveled the path up her arm to her face. Before Lilia could protest and pronounce her plainness, she continued, " Could it be...a Crystal of Light? Tell me true—has the Mothercrystal revealed Herself to you? Did you bask in Her light?"

Lilia stared at her. Nothing else could describe the first vision she had ever had. The Mothercrystal... "How did you know?" Now she took both of the Elder Seedseer's hands in hers, desperate to know more of what had been happening to her.

"That Hydaelyn would speak directly to this woman..." Kan-E-Senna studied every ilm of her face. Moments stretched on treacherously long before she said, "There once were dauntless adventurers who fought in the name of Eorzea. When the primals threatened to bleed the land dry, these brave men and women rose to face them. When the Garlean Empire resumed its war of conquest, they rushed to the realm's defense. And when it was foretold that Dalamud would fall, they fought with all their strength to deliver us from certain doom.

"Yet as strong and as brave as they were, they—like so many—disappeared amidst the flames at Carteneau. None have forgotten the heroes who gave all for the sake of a realm not their own. Yet when we try to recall their names, we find the pages of our memories are blank, as if bleached by the sun. And when we try to recall their faces, we see them only in silhouette, as if they stood betwixt us and a blinding glare. Hence have these heroes come to be known as the Warriors of Light. Beholding you, illuminated by the glow of the Crystal, I could not help but be reminded of them."

Lilia grasped at her words as they fell, but they seemed to grand to be describing her. "Please, Elder Seedseer. I don't understand. Please, help me understand.

"The Crystal has chosen you for a purpose. Trust to its guiding light, and all shall be revealed to you in good time. Though none can say for certain what the future will bring, it is my belief that you may yet play a telling role in the tale of this great realm." Her honeyed hair glistened as she leaned her head forward, surprising Lilia as it touched her own. "For the power of the Echo resides within you."

As though the proximity to someone so beautiful wasn't already making her reel, Lilia's vision began to blur. She swoon, tightening her grip on Kan-E-Senna's hands. She knew it wouldn't keep her from falling, but the instinct was instant. She was certain she would feel the crack of her head on the amphitheater stage, but there was nothing.

Kan-E-Senna stood upon a plateau with several others. High above the battle, she surveyed the carnage with...distaste? pity?...even she wasn't sure. Emotions were meaningless in war, and yet she could not push them fully aside as Merlwyb managed to. They were, at least, not at the surface.

"The Yellow Serpents are in need of succor. Pray send the White Wolves to their aid." She drew a breath, willing her voice not to shake. "The adventurers risk life and lime for our cause. We must not fail them."

No sooner had the soldier rushed to convey her orders did she feel a chill come over her. She looked back over her shoulder, into the dark distance, sensing more than seeing the source of her discomfort.

"Is aught amiss?" Merlwyb asked. It was a curt question, needing only the most important details in answer.

Details that Kan-E-Senna lacked. "No...it is nothing."

"The barrier won't go down easily!" Raubahn called to his men through his linkpearl. His commanding presence was only ever matched by the gentleness he showed those who needed it. "Eyes forward!"

"We are being watched," Kan-E-Senna said, almost to herself.

Predictably, the battle turned for the worst from there. The linkpearls malfunctioned to the point of being useless. Kan-E-Senna could feel the struggle and desperation of each one of her warriors...and that of Merlwyb's and Raubahn's as well. Her connection to the earth and to the aether guaranteed that when the emotions were in such high quantities.

"Admiral, General--we can do no more." The words pained her as she said them. "We must give the order to withdraw."

"I will not forsake Louisoix!" Raubahn bellowed, less because he was angry with her and more because he had been bellowing all his orders for hours.

"General, please! Victory may belong to the bold, but there will be no victor this day! You know this to be true. Let us not sacrifice lives in vain. The adventurers fight bravely, but to no avail. Let them withdraw, and let us be the ones to stand with Louisoix."

Merlwyb scowled. As true as Kan-E-Senna's words were, she was disinclined to like them. "Belay previous orders! All Maelstrom units are commanded to fall back, effective immediately! Give the Foreign Levy priority! Let the main host cover their retreat, and bring up the rear!"

"Damn it... Relay the order: all Flames are to withdraw. I don't care if our linkshells are useless! You still have a working pair of legs, don't you!? Well use 'em, you bloody half-wit!"

"The outcome of this battle was long since decided. Better to retreat now, than risk a massacre. This dark, stifling presence... Who...or what...?" She shook the questions from her mind. Now was not the time for them. "We go to take our place beside Archon Louisoix! To your positions!"

Only then was Lilia aware of herself in this space. She tried to reach out to Kan-E-Senna, but she was transported, farther and faster away than she had ever traveled by foot. There she saw a masked man, different from whom she had just fought by the Guardian Tree, though she would not doubt they were in league with each other.

"That I should live to behold Bahamut once more… Magnificent. The aeons of imprisonment have only made him hungrier." Someone behind him spoke, but Lilia could not hear. "I am aware of them. Pay them no mind. They are powerless to act. It has begun. Soon the planet will regain its true form."

The man's laughter echoed, echoed, echoed, until it was all Lilia could hear. Not even the sounds of battle and retreat could reach her. She wanted to reach out and strike this man down. Instead, she fell further into darkness.

When Lilia woke, it was in her own bed at the Carline Canopy. She bolted upright, reaching behind her for her staff, when Miounne placed a soothing hand on her shoulder.

"Mother," she whispered, a rush of relief overwhelming her.

"Happy to have you here with the living, Lilia." Miounne grabbed a cloth from a bowl of water and wrung it out. She dabbed it on her forehead, and the cool touch helped her relax. "You've been sleeping deeper than any sleep I've ever witnessed. I would be jealous, were it not for what proceeded it."

"What happened?"

"You fainted after the ceremony. Lucky for you, the Elder Seedseer was able to catch you before you fell. Your head was rested in her lap like a babe's before I managed to push my way through."

Lilia flushed at the thought of her head being in anyone's lap, let alone someone as beautiful as Kan-E-Senna. "It...m-must have been the warmth of the day and the excitement."

Miounne leveled a look at her: clearly that was not the truth. But in the next moment, her expression was kind again. She started to comb and braid Lilia's hair. "You're expected to meet the Elder Seedseer at the Lotus Stand. Only when you're feeling well enough, of course."

"She wants to see me?" She tried to face Miounne, but she was tsked into facing forward while the woman worked. "But I must have caused a great scene after the ceremony. Surely I ruined it."

"Surely you didn't," Miounne assured her. She tied the braid of with a little leather bow. "There. That'll keep it off your neck. Hopefully that will avoid any future fainting spells."

Lilia touched it lightly. "Thank you, Mother."

"Take your time." She looked as though she wanted to say something, but then she shook her head softly. "I'll bring you some breakfast."

The breakfast was light: Miounne was worried about her stomach. Even so, Lilia couldn't manage much more than nibbles. She expected a scolding, no matter what Miounne said. What kind of Emissary was she, to pass out immediately after the ceremony?

After taking the aetheryte to Stillglade Fane, Lilia hesitated. She knew logically that sound from the Lotus Stand wouldn't travel this far, and yet a prickling worry told her that Kan-E-Senna's harsh words would echo around the tunnel to the guild, all the way to E-Sumi-Yan's ears. Her dreams of a Gridanian home were crumbling down around her. It was only a matter of time before the people here realized her only valuable quality was her voice, and then they would clamber to her for songs, and it would be worse here than with the Cantrells because she had been stupid enough to think she could craft herself into someone valuable, and then...

"Miss Softfoot?"

Lilia started. The conjurer who guarded the Lotus Stand smiled at her and gestured to the entrance. "The Elder Seedseer is waiting."

"Y-yes, of course."

As she walked down the path, Lilia wished she had more opportunity to appreciate the wonder around her. Though nearly all of Gridania and the surrounding Shroud was lush, here the flora pushed through with an increased enthusiasm. Walkways, arranged like lily pads, allowed one to get to the center without wetting the feet. There was a table with a lotus symbol, but no one was seated. The gentle sound of the river flowing down into this pool soothed Lilia's nerves slightly.

"Lilia." The way the Elder Seedseer said her name made her feel like they had been friends for years. "Are you well?"

"Quite, my lady," she said. She flexed her fingers, unsure of what to do with her hands in this moment. Grasping the Elder Seedseer's before was presumptuous at best. "I'm sorry to have made you wait."

"Not at all. Full glad am I to hear that you've made a recovery, as I would not wish to ask anything of you otherwise." Her smile was warmer than the dappled sunlight that struck her delicate shoulders. Lilia noticed now that her eyes were blue, blue blue, pure and clean like an unfound lake. "I do have something I wish to ask of you, should you be willing to hear it."

"I-I can think of few things you might ask of me that I would refuse." She blushed, only hearing the implication of those words after they were spoken. "All of Gridania adores you, and I am counted among them."

She laughed, a sparkling sound. "Worry not, Lilia. I am not here to judge you."

"A blessing in and of itself. What would you ask of me, my lady?"

"Thank you for hearing me out. I have written a letter to my counterparts in the Eorzean Alliance. The Battle of Carteneau and the Calamity that followed claimed countless souls, and left countless more bereft and alone." She paused, closing her eyes, and Lilia wondered of much of that she placed on her own shoulders. "In the dark days that followed, many were the survivors who thought themselves less fortunate than the dead. Five years have come and gone, but the land and the people still bear the wounds of the devastation. Nor are we any closer to learning the fate of the Warriors of Light. Yet so long as we live, never must we give up hope. We owe this to those who laid down their lives that we might behold another dawn. In remembrance of them, a memorial service will soon be held upon the anniversary of the Battle of Carteneau."

Her head swam with this. Other than the intrusive vision she had had after the ceremony, she didn't recognize these events. Clearly she needed to delve deeper into history if she was going to consider being near the Elder Seedseer at all. "I'm sorry, my lady. I've led a rather...sheltered life before coming to Gridania. I remember the Calamity happening, but I was shielded from its effects."

She tsked. "A pity. Hiding history from our children is akin to expecting plants to grow strong without roots."

"I do agree," she said, rubbing the back of her next. Her forays into the Cantrell's library had always been minimal and secret. They had only ever allowed her to study languages so she might best sing some of their favorite arias. "Would that I could study our past."

"You may be able to." She pulled out two envelopes, crisp and sealed with wax. "This missive bears the details of that service. You graciously accepted the part of Emissary in the recent ceremony. Should you be so willing, I would now make you my envoy, and have you bear my message to our allies. Your dedication to the people of Gridania rouses fond memories in me, and I would choose no other for the role. Will you do me this favor?"

Her hands shook as she accepted the envelopes. Of course she would do this. Of course. But what little she knew of the Eorzean Alliance guaranteed that this favor would take her out of Gridania and onward to Limsa Lominsa and ultimately...Ul'dah. She nodded, though the movement felt like forcing her head through syrup.

"Humbly, I thank you. As you are no doubt aware, our partners in the Eorzean Alliance lie some considerable distance away. Nor are Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa close to one another. Yet fear not, for I have no intention of subjecting you, mine own newly anointed envoy, to a journey which would take weeks by land." Lilia nearly laughed at this and the countless days she spent travelling here from Ul'dah. "No, I mean for you to travel by air. Receive of me this airship pass. With it, you may make use of the skyways that connect the three city-states of the Alliance. The airship landing is situated upon the lower floor of the Carline Canopy. Simply show your pass, and you will be admitted to the departure area."

"I thank you, my lady." The pass was embossed with the Elder Seedseer's seal and the Twin Adder crest. It felt heavy in her hand, as though this little slip of paper was deciding her fate. She supposed it was. "I only worry that I am not worldly enough to represent you."

"Worry not. You'll have to pass her on your way to the landing regardless, so be sure to speak with Miounne. Few forestborn Gridanians know more of the lands beyond the Twelveswood than she. In better times, airships were available for the convenience of one and all." She looked off, wistful, before bringing her full attention back to Lilia. "Alas, the risk that our crafts may fall to imperial attack has forced a reduction in the number of flights. Consequently, it has become necessary to restrict air travel only to those whose need is great. Such individuals may petition the relevant parties to be issued an airship pass. As you may have deduced, I myself am one such party... Yet I was not alone in desiring that you be granted the privilege of air travel. Such is the potential you show. We have no doubt but that you will reward our faith in you, Lilia."

She swallowed hard. When had anyone shown this much faith in her before? Often when she was out on adventuring business, her employers doubted her until she came back with results. The Cantrells only ever believed in her abilities as a music box, and her parents...

Well, being sold by her own parents often discouraged her to have faith in herself.

The Elder Seedseer took her hands, perhaps to distract her from a clearly mutinous train of thought. "By the power vested in me, I bid you journey forth as my envoy into the great realm of Eorzea. Walk her fields, brave her seas, and strive to know her better. And wheresoever you go, go without fear, for the path shall ever be revealed to those who are true of heart. Guided by the Crystal's light, set forth, and discover your destiny."

She smiled weakly. "I will make certain your letters reach their destinations, my lady. Come hells or high water."

"I know you will."

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Pirates, creepy crawlies, undead, cults, spriggans, coblyns, rightfully angry giants...all of this in less than a week! Lilia groaned as she stretched on chocoback. Sunbright was an easy-going if foolish bird, so he didn't give so much as a kweh of complaint to her shifting weight. She reached into her pack for gyshal greens. It was as much to keep him happy as it was to give him a bit of hydration. Easy-going as he was, she struggled to get him to drink in the desert heat. He drooped as if to say, "What's the point?" But gyshal greens doused in water? That always worked.

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