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I did not miss in the least how busy Sapphire Avenue Exchange was within Ul’dah. Faint memories of coming here on errands for my guardians filter through my mind. But it felt different seeing the vendors in full force this day.
Perhaps it was due to me now seeing the area as no mere citizen.
Compared to fighting primals and Ascians though, this was downright normal.
It was hard to say when I’ll be called from my short reprieve to battle. But it would do well to prepare for that inevitability. If I were honest, I would rather just get to my next destination.
But against the overwhelming suggestion of my new comrades, I couldn’t outright refuse such heartfelt requests.
Already I had been sitting and walking around this section of the city-state for quite some time. Nothing particular was catching my eyes this day it seemed. I found myself nearing to the end of the stalls. A simple turn and I would be at the city gates.
Just one more stall to browse.
It had an unassuming atmosphere. Not a particular theme or specialty to the stall. One could readily call it junk. The words of my guardians of not underestimating the value behind these random stalls. My eyes were soon locked with a miniature figure of a person. Despite the diminutive proportions, there was no mistaking the familiar features.
“That mammet caught yer eye lass?”
My head snaps up at the voice. Caught off guard by my discovery I forgot the vendor was actually there. I saw those dark eyes glint at the potential of a buyer.
(Father did always tell me to be a little more stoic in my shopping ventures…)
“Arrived a few days ago,” he explained, “This model is quite popular amongst the fairer folk. Couldn’t fathom why one would abandon such a coveted item. I can only go assumin’ the previous owner got overzealous. Once they had their fill, sold it.”
My brows furrowed at his explanation. That…seemed suspect. My hand goes over the surface of the mammet. At least it was clean, for a small mercy. A part of me really wondered what exactly being “overzealous” entailed.
Another part of me thought better of delving into that trail.
“How much?”
I couldn’t really tell you why I wanted to buy it. The body was scuffed and scratched while the clothes were tattered and thread bare. He smirked as he named his price. I frowned. Surely the price he spoke couldn’t be right. Despite the popularity of the model, the condition it was in was surely worth a lower price. I knew my looks lead to the assumption that I didn’t know better.
One does not have a merchant as a father and not pick up a few things along the way.
So I haggled.
The merchant’s brows rose in my counter price. We go back and forth, never with any malice. But of trying to come to a price we’d both feel accomplished by. Soon enough, the mammet was in my hands.
Now that I had it, the question was what to do with it?
Those painted eyes looked right back at me. That thought played in my mind as I took the trek back to my inn room within the Quicksands. ‘Twas clear that a restoration was paramount. But I am no artisan, never as much even grazed the tools.
But this mammet had called to me.
I let out a small breath at my impulsiveness. I had made my choice, now to follow through with it.
“The path to weaving will not be easy Miss. Are you ready to pour your soul into creating passionate garments?”
I nodded at the guildmaster. Perhaps it was time I took on more hobbies. Hilde always did chide me in having more involved hobbies than reading. Not even training was one of them. My mind wanders to the covered figure in my pack. Cleaned it even more once I decided what I was going to do myself.
I never knew items could hold on to such grime.
But at least it started to look more like the man it was supposed to model after.
Over my travels and quick inquiries, I found out that having a third party restore the mammet was quite an expense. At the rates they were asking I was better off learning the crafts myself. It was that determination, or perhaps frugal rooted stubbornness, that led me to hall of the Weaver’s guild. I do admit that the guildmaster gave a hint of an intimidating aura, but he and the other weavers here welcomed me with open arms.
Perhaps with this, I can start on this restoration.
“Ami? The hour is late.”
Minfilia’s voice startled me out of my crafting reverie. Her eyes lowered in an apologetic gesture. I waved it off since I was not angry at the distraction. She was of course right though. I should really be resting. We had received word that Alphinaud will be arriving with the plans of this all out attack against the Ultima Weapon. I knew what ever the plans were, I were to play an important role of it.
If its main source was power of the primals, then my power would be needed.
The stress of what was at stake deterred any attempts for sleep. My usual aid of reading didn’t seem a productive means of my time.
So I turned to weaving instead.
“Couldn’t sleep, too wound up.”
She nodded before taking a seat beside me. She remained silent, just watching me stitch a seam on a miniature black tunic. Usually my response to someone finding out this new venture of mines was embarrassment. But this woman I’ve learned to call friend; I shouldn’t feel embarrassed she caught me in such a situation. One of the very few who truly understood the burden and feeling of having the Echo.
This operation had so much at stake. And not only just for Eorzea.
But for Thancred too.
Caught in the crossfire of circumstances, this will also determine if we can truly save him. This possibility was the true root of my restlessness. My heart felt knotted. My mind still reeling of the image of his body clad in Ascian garb. Taken by Lahabrea. My heart gripped with this feeling I couldn’t rightly put into words. At least not until that moment.
It seemed that not even I was immune to his charming ways.
“We will win,” Minfilia said, “We will win and bring him back.”
I nodded. If she believed it to be such, then I saw no reason to doubt her. And honestly, I needed to hear the words. I needed to steel my resolve when there was so much hanging in the balance. I finished up the seam and now the tunic was complete. My work was met with a subdued applause from Minfilia. Her smile bringing a bit of a calm over my worries.
“Wonderful. You seem to have a talent for crafting.”
I smiled at her before putting the tunic on the Thancred minion on the tabletop. It stood there as I adjusted the fit, watching for any out of place pieces of clothing. I think it looked rather nice now, a far cry from the grimy state when I first purchased it. The scuffs and scratches were no more, letting the mammet’s true skin show. Though painted its hazel eyes gave an air of cooled confidence. Not unlike the man it was based off of. Visually, it was fully restored.
But there was still the matter of making it move. There was still more work to be done to truly call it a complete restoration.
I shook my head.
“I am still but just a novice. I have a long path ahead of me to be considered gifted.”
“You mustn’t doubt yourself such,” Minfilia said.
Her voice had become stronger. Her eyes alight with confidence and conviction. She took my hand into hers. There I felt the comfortable warmth. More of her calming influence soothes the worry and stress that mounted inside me.
“You have come a long way since the day you agreed to aid us. Never neglect the accomplishments reached. I am certain we will need that strength in these coming times.”
Just as quickly, she parted her hands from me as she stood. There was a certain look to her eyes now. It brought to mind something Thancred had told me once. That Minfilia has this determination. The type that helps inspire others. It was what inspired me to agree to aid the Scions.
“Believe in yourself Ami,” she continued, “Believe in yourself and the power She granted you. That, I feel, will be our key to help all we can. I am going to bed too. You should try and do the same.”
I watched in silence as she left to her room. Her words rung true. I cradled the minion to my chest. A small part of me wished it was Thancred himself I was cradling.
Perhaps I can be truer to myself after all this is said and done.
But first, I would need to believe in my capability to save the man.