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It had been another long day of exploring the many winding halls and spacious rooms that the Crystal Tower had to offer. It was a marvel of ancient history, an artifact of a civilization far beyond their own. It was a beacon of wonder and possibilities and adventure.
Or so G'raha Tia said.
Maya had quietly listened to his excitement, some of it catching, but most of slipping in one ear and out the other. It was not as though she did not recognize the fact she was setting foot in untouched territory. It was absolutely incredible, of course! But adventure for adventure's sake had lost it's luster many months ago. So she kept her mouth shut and let the Seeker bubble over with ecstasy. At least it filled the silence of the evening air as they shared a fire away from everyone else.
After he had discovered she was the Warrior of Light, he had stuck to her like glue. The questions had been thorough and plentiful, curiosity plain on his face. Maya answered as the mood suited her, but a lot of the time she had waved him off. Something about tonight was different. They had cleared the path to upper levels of the Tower and G'raha's elation was beyond compare.
So when he casually asked her, yet again, what had brought her to the Crystal Tower, when his curiosity made his eyes shine with wonder, she swallowed down her shame and answered.
"Someone I loved died because of me," she whispered. "My carelessness resulted in him taking a blow...meant for me. And he died."
It was the first time she had spoken the words aloud since it had happened. The shock on G'raha's face eased the numbing guilt she felt. It was clear he was scrambling for words, but Maya raised her hand to stop him.
"No condolences. Please." She was acutely aware of the way he was looking at her. Sorrow, pity. She had had enough of that in Ishgard. "I am here, hiding, because of that. I cannot face that place that was made a home by him." Knots in her stomach threatened to steal her voice, but she glanced away, staring into the crackling fire instead of G'raha's kind eyes. "I am a coward. A feckless imposter, not the vaunted hero you so desire."
"You are a hero. You've destroyed primals! You've - You've saved countless lives!" G'raha stammered.
"But I couldn't save him, could I?" she spat. "What good is my blessing if I cannot protect the people closest to my heart?"
The Seeker had no answer for that.