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Renga Shiryuza leaned her head down to kiss her husband while they embraced each other once more. “Do you truly have to do this Love?” L’scial Tia looked up at the Moon Keeper, his black ears flattening against his head as he took her fully armored appearance and claymore strapped to her back, her Dark Knight Soulstone activated at the moment, while her Monk Soulstone was inside a pouch on her thick leather belt. “You’ve only just given birth not too long ago.”
“I know Scial.” The female Miqo’te sighed. “But Louisoix needs me to do this.” She then turned her head to look back up at the dark cloudy sky, L’scial turning his head as well.
Dalamud had grown closer with each passing day. Even if Cid had reassured them that it would not fall anymore, Renga was still not sure. She had missed out on the battle her comrades had partaken in taking down the Garlean called Nael as she had gone into labor around that time.
L’scial chuckled sadly. “It’s the Echo, isn’t it? I sometimes wish I could see what you see in your dreams.”
“Scial…” She forced a smile back at him. “The responsibility of having the Echo is a lot to take in. I don’t want to burden you with such a weight. Besides,” Renga paused as she and her husband heard the sounds of babies crying. “Someone has to take care of the little ones.”
Her husband laughed and turned to fetch the twin babies from the tent, carrying them in each arm back to her.
L'nascia and L’rangi had woken up from their naps and both had started to become cranky when they realized their parents weren’t there. As soon as L’scial brought them back out to their mother though, they both blinked and ceased their crying.
While the twins only differed by being brother and sister, they seemed to be almost mirror images of one another. L’rangi’s right and L'nascia’s left eye had inherited their mother’s blood-red color, while their father’s yellow eyes colored L’rangi’s left and L’nascia’s right. Both the twins’ hair colors were the color of silver-white with the ends coated black, a mixture of their parents’ hair colors.
Renga cooed at her offspring, reaching out to pinch and tickle both of their faces. Both of the babies grabbed her fingers simultaneously and brought them to their mouths to suckle on. Renga smiled as she felt the pinpricks of the twin’s fangs nip her fingers.
Being mixed Sun and Moon Miqo’te, the twins retained their father’s slit-like pupils and would most likely keep their mother’s fangs when they were older.
Reaching up to her ears, she took out her Menphina earrings. She always took them off before she headed off for a big fight, after nearly losing them once. L’scial dutifully took them in his hand, to hang onto for safekeeping. Renga looked at L’scial and kissed him. “I’ll be all right. I’ll be with Meteor and the others.” She smiled and gave each of her children a kiss on the head before kissing her husband once more. “You head to Ul’dah and wait for me there. All right?”
Turning away from her family, she brought out her whistle and blew into it, summoning her Chocobo. Hopping on the golden bird, she snapped the reins and rode away from the campsite.
L’scial watched his wife disappear on the horizon and turned to bring tend to his children by the campfire side. Once his arms were free, he put his wife’s earrings into his vest’s breast pocket, close to his heart.
Tomorrow, he would begin his trek with his children to Ul’dah. The road would be long, but he would be there for his children, no matter what it took.
***
What came forth from Dalamud, was a monster. The draconic beast, known as the old Primal God Bahamut, spread its massive wings and flew around, incinerating everything within its path, Garlean and Eorzean soldiers alike. Burning fragments from the remnants of the spherical prison that had originally held the Primal shot everywhere, scattering across the landscape like shooting stars.
Blood dripped down the side of Renga’s head as she whipped her head about, trying to find her teammates. The blow to her head earlier had broken the linkpearl pearl that had been tucked behind her ear and she had been separated from the others. While the others were still in contact with the Path of the Twelve and Louisoix, the Miqo’te had been disconnected from them all.
Holding an arm around her broken ribs and dragging her claymore in the other hand, she stumbled across the bloody battlefield, trying to avoid the stranded corpses of soldiers, chocobos, and ruined Garlean magitek. Having been separated from her teammates, she had taken quite a beating from a horde of magitek juggernauts who had surrounded her earlier, but eventually, she had taken every one of them down. Even if they had separated her from her sword, she still had her Monk soulstone on her should she need to switch her fighting tactics. Without her party though, there was no one to heal her wounds; she had used up her last potion during the fight.
At least the fighting between the two country factions had ceased the moment Bahamut began destroying everything in its wake. Everyone around her was running past her, trying to flee from the Primal dragon and flaming debris, but she suddenly stayed put, eyes widening as she looked up at the sky.
One of the fireballs Bahamut unleashed came barreling down on a group of five individuals before her. She recognized the tell-tale hat from her Black Mage Elezen companion and the short stature of the Lalafell White Mage next to the looming Roegadyn Paladin; beside them was a female Sun Seeker Miqo’te Bard, a male Hyur Warrior stood the farthest away from her point of view. As the fireball came hurtling at her comrades, she screamed out to them.
Moments before the five before her could be incinerated, a massive shield barrier arose in front of them, reflecting the fireball.
All six of the fighter’s attention was drawn to the top of the cliff behind them. Atop the cliff stood an old Elezen man, struggling to channel aether through his staff to prolong the barrier.
“Louisoix.” Renga gasped with relief.
A stray spark of fire flew in her direction. As she dodged to avoid it, her bruised legs tripped on the corpse of a soldier and she fell, dropping her broadsword. She let out a hiss in pain from the fall hitting her already broken ribs. A loud shattering sound drew her attention back up to the cliffside.
The old Elezen’s barrier broke against the might of Bahamut’s flames as the Primal drew its attention to him. From far away, from what Renga calculated to at least be in the direction of the Black Shroud, a beam of light shot up into the sky. Ten more beams of light rose from various directions in the distance. Each of the eleven beams turned into large spear-like formations.
Using her sword to brace herself, Renga struggled to her feet as she watched Louisoix summon his own spear of light and all twelve suddenly flew towards the Primal, stabbing its body with their ethereal radiance. A shield barrier similar to the surface of Dalamud began to grow around Bahamut’s body, sealing it off. Around the blue sphere came a magic circle with the runes of the twelve.
The plan conducted by the Path of the Twelve was in motion now. Hope filled her chest as she regained the energy to look at her comrades.
Before she could raise her voice to try and shout to them though, a loud cracking sound in the air drew her attention back to the sky. The chains of light around Bahamut shattered the blast breaking Louisoix’s staff.
The Primal was flying high in the sky, summoning a massive Tera flare spell. Renga’s jaw dropped as her eyes took in the size of the flaming ball. By the size it had become, it would destroy all of Eorzea. She could feel the blistering heat from the sphere against her skin.
The plan had failed.
Was this truly it?
Suddenly, she saw Louisoix wave his arms, circles of light surrounding each of her comrades, four of them disappearing at once, only one of them remaining. Meteor, the Hyur Warrior turned around as he watched in surprise at what was happening.
As Renga and Meteor’s eyes met, the Hyur looked relieved for a moment to see his friend alive but then a flash of horror was on both of their faces.
Whatever spell Louisoix had cast, it had not reached the Moon Keeper.
Meteor reached out his hand in desperation; Renga realized that he could not move toward her. Gathering what little strength she had left, she urged her legs into a sprint, dropping her broadsword. Her gear on her body shifted to her Monk armor as she swapped Soulstones. She tried to use one of her skills to speed up. Her lungs throbbed against her broken ribs. One word kept repeating in her mind over and over like an endless mantra.
NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo!
Just as her fingertips were about to reach his, Meteor’s body disappeared into a flurry of little specks of light. With nothing to grab onto, Renga fell face-first into the bloodied dirt. Her broken body ached painfully from the impact of the ground. A sudden gravitational feeling chilled her insides.
She had been abandoned. The one left behind.
Her body began to shake as she slowly rose to her knees, turning her head back to where Louisoix was now crouching at the cliff’s edge.
Did he not have enough magic to channel enough aether for all of them? Was it because her linkpearl was broken? Was it because she was too far away when he began the spell?
The heat from the Terra Flame spell was burning her skin as she looked back to face it. It felt worse than standing out under the desert sun and getting sunburned. Any tears she tried to shed were evaporated from the roasting temperature around her.
As she let the heat of the flames consume her, she whispered a hoarse apology aloud to herself.
“I’m sorry Scial…”
***
After the flash of light finally cleared, L’scial opened his eyes. Both his children were wailing in his arms from the sounds of the loud explosions in the sky.
The dragon and Dalamud were gone. From the distance, L’scial could see the hilltops surrounding Mor Dhona red with fire and embers. The region of Thanalan he was in had miraculously escaped most of the flaming debris from Dalamud.
The Sun Seeker rose from where he had been crouching to shield his children from the sudden bright flash. Hearing both their cries of distress, he tried to comfort them.
“Shush, it’s all right you two. It’ll be okay.” His voice wavered. “I’m here for you. Your mother loves you both.”
Tears fell down his cheeks. “She...she loves you both...so much…” L’scial hugged them both gently as they both started to calm down in their cries.
Whatever happened at the battle, L’scial did not know, but one thing was certain, he could feel the sinking despair in his chest.
His wife was not coming back. Not this time.
***
Ul’dah was still quite a distance away from where L'scial set up camp. The outcropping by the riverbank was away from any sort of vilekin so he left his two sleeping children in the tent while he went to fetch water. After Dalamud finally disappeared, the skies had slowly turned back to normal
As he dunked the wooden bucket into the clear stream, he let out a mournful sigh.
From what had happened in Mor Dhona a couple of weeks ago, Eorzea was probably in chaos. He had seen parts of Dalamud fly over in the direction of the various major cities. Even if he arrived in Ul'dah, there was likely to be rioting from the commotion.
He was already in exile before the battle of Carteneau and it wouldn't be any surprise if the destruction caused by the dragon from Dalamud created more refugees. There would be an influx of people running to the cities for safety and there wouldn't be enough hands to help them all.
And what of his wife? The chances of her surviving the flash of light were slim to none. Was there even a body to recover? Judging by the number of flames he could still see in the distance, no.
Letting out another sigh, L’scial stood up and turned around, full bucket in hand. His yellow eyes widened at the sight of a lance right in front of his nose. On the other end of the polearm was the telltale armor of a male Garlean soldier. “Don’t move.” The Elezen Garlean said sternly.
A few more Garlean soldiers stepped out from behind the outcropping, each heavily armed. With them, a war hound slunk out behind the soldiers, its ears down while its lips were curled in a drooling snarl.
L’scial held up one arm in mercy. “I don’t want to cause any trouble…” He tried to reassure the soldiers before him. Looking at each of them, he noticed their armor was singed, one of them was a female Roegadyn, her arm bandaged in a flimsy way (None of them were Chirugons it seemed), the Lalafell of the troupe looked to be in worst shape-obviously none of them had eaten much in days. Survivors from what occurred at Carteneau he concluded. “What do you want?”
“Hand over your supplies.” A Viera wearing an eyepatch hissed, training her bow at L’scial. A Hyur joined her, notching an arrow as well.
L’scial hesitated. He was far away from any settlement and outpost. If he gave up everything he had, he and his children’s survival within the Thanalan desert and hot sun would be risky. If it were just him, he would be fine, he was used to wandering in the heat as a Sun Seeker. But he had his two children to take care of; those supplies were important, especially the ones to help feed his children. “Perhaps we can work out a deal-”
“BE QUIET!” The Elezen shouted, his voice echoing against the walls of the canyon.
Suddenly, two voices started crying: L’scial paled. The yelling woke his children up. Each of the soldiers snapped their attention towards the tent. The war hound pounced onto the tent in reflex, shredding the canvas.
The next thing L’scial saw was red as he quickly used his bucket with the heavyweight of water to smash into the side of the Elezen’s head before grabbing at the knife in his belt.
***
A large spear wound to the stomach bleeding heavily; arrows were taken from the back, puncturing both of his lungs.
By all accounts, L’scial should have been dead by now as he slowly limped through the sand under the beating sun. But he refused to let what little strength he had to leave his body, to let his wheezing lungs give up gathering any more air left, to let his tired legs fall into the sand, to let the blood dripping from his wounds collect into a puddle with the dust, to let his spirit leave his body to join the Lifestream.
Not yet. He thought as he cradled his children close to his chest. He couldn’t die just yet.
Not when his two little ones still needed him. He glanced down to make sure both of them were still breathing. Despite the deep cuts on both of the babies’ faces, both were otherwise alive and finally sleeping within their father’s bloodied arms. He then covered up their faces to protect them from the sun.
There was no one else in this desert except monsters and the dead bodies of the Garleans left in the canyon behind him.
L’scial had to find someone and soon. Someone to save his children. If Menphina and Azeyma would give him a miracle. If there was even someone, something-
A sudden flash in the distance forced the Miqo’te to squeeze his eyes shut. Once the bright light had ceased, he reopened them and looked up, his yellow eyes widening in shock.
Before him looked like a tall female Miqo’te with long white hair, tinted with light blue. She wore pure white robes that were pristine clean, something that was odd to see within the dusty deserts. L’scial wasn’t sure if he was hallucinating or not, but it seemed as if translucent feathered wings were stretching out from her back.
Hallucination or not, he quickened his pace towards the clean white Miqo’te.
***
When their magic had finally become strong enough to travel to other worlds, she and her three sisters made a promise: not to interfere. Too many times in their adventures together in the past did they witness the consequences of others who meddled with another universe’s general order of laws-one of their Gods as one example. They were to be simply observers. Witnesses of stories of other worlds where there may not be one.
She looked around to see where her teleportation had dropped her off. It appeared she was in a desert. No mass of people to accidentally witness her sudden appearance; she would not need to cast a memory-wiping spell then-her eyes landed on a figure heading towards her. It was a man with cat ears and a tail. His black hair had white highlights to it.
Her eyes widened when she realized the man was bleeding heavily. Quickly as her white boots could take her across the sands, she ran to the man, who finally fell to his knees just as she reached him. Seeing two babies in his arms that he held out to her in bloodied arms, she swiftly took them both as the man collapsed on his side, coughing up blood that splattered onto her dress.
Taking a once over on the children, besides the facial injuries, they were all right. Gently putting the two on the ground beside her, she then took a look at the man, biting her lip as she frowned. “Your wounds are very deep and heavily damaged your insides, it is even a miracle your soul is still lingering within your body.” She explained to him before hesitating. Holding his hand in her own, she looked at him with sympathetic eyes, ignoring her gloves being stained by his blood. “Forgive me. Even if my magic could save you, I…I made an Oath: I am not supposed to interfere with your world.”
The least she could do is be his final witness so he wouldn’t have to die alone.
Lifting his head, she rested it on her lap on his side so the blood wouldn’t choke up his throat. “If...if you have one last request before you die, I will carry it out for you.” If he had family, she could bring his body to them; or perhaps a significant other. She had granted many a last wish of those who passed in front of her. It was the least she could do.
***
He had no idea what this Miqo’te was talking about. Oath? His world? Surely this was a hallucination from all the blood loss. At this point, it did not matter to him. He was dying and wanted to make sure his children were safe.
At first, when he tried to speak, he spat blood to the side, onto her lap, staining the white further with red. “Please...save my children…” With a shaking hand, he reached into his vest pocket and handed the woman in white his wife’s earrings. “Please, keep them safe...they have no one.”
Not when his and his wife’s tribes exiled them both. And entrusting his children in either of the tribes’ care would be cruel. Renga and L’scial knew both tribes would treat their children terribly.
He knew not who this woman was, but despite the pain in his body that was tugging at what was left of him to leave his body, the aura that seemed to radiate from this woman’s body was comforting, easing the pain from his wounds.
L’scial felt he could trust her. That this woman, whoever she was, could take care of them.
“I... entrust them both...in your care.” His vision started to get foggy, his hand with the earrings in the woman’s hand losing strength. “That...that is my wish...I want...you...to keep my children safe...for my wife and me...they must live…promise me...”
He could not hold on anymore. His fight with the pull from the Lifestream was starting to end.
***
Her eyes widened in shock at what this man asked of her. But she could not tell him no, not when he was almost gone. That would be the most heartbreaking thing she could do for him. Giving him a kind smile, her free hand petted the top of his head through his hair, her fingers delicately touching one of his ears. “I promise.” She said as she looked down at him with her dark blue eyes.
The man in her lap smiled. “Thank you.” Closing his eyes, the heavy breaths from his wounded chest ceased, going to a standstill, the smile still upon his lips.
Putting her hand on his forehead, her silver eyes closed shut and she channeled her magic into reading his body. Even without a soul left to occupy the empty vessel, she could still get as much information about the previous occupant, learning of their story, their memories, their name, and what led to their death before she had arrived. Scenes of the man’s past washed over her.
“L’scial, ever thought of wanting to be a Nunh?” One of his male Sun Seeker tribal kin nudged him as they both worked on carving up the antelope carcass one of the Miqo’te huntresses brought back.
He looked at his brother and chuckled. “I’m not the sort who wants to sire many children for our clan.” His brother paused in cleaning the intestines to watch him as he continued to speak with ease while carefully skinning the hide from the flesh of the horn beastkin. “I just want to settle with one woman-no one else. I want it to be more than just coupling for strong offspring for the tribe; I would rather have children with her to show our love for one another.”
His friend let out a loud sigh. “And this is why you’ll always be a Tia.”
“I don’t mind.” L’scial smiled back.
The scene later changed to a forest called The Black Shroud.
Just as the Ahriman was about to send a blast of dark energy from its eye at L’scial, a claymore came soaring through the air into the flying eyeball’s body. As the imps that had surrounded the Miqo’te turned their attention to the intruder on their meal, a female Moon Keeper leaped out of the brushes, her gear changing in midair as she swapped her Soulstones out, she slammed her fist into one of the imps, its body dispersing into smoke as she landed before going after the rest of the voidsent.
Once she had taken out the rest of the voidsent, she swiveled around to glare at L’scial, her hand on her hips. “What were you thinking? Most people know to avoid this area if they don’t know how to fight. The aether energy is out of control here that voidsent fester.”
“Sorry,” L’scial spoke, embarrassed of the whole situation. “I was looking for Shroud Tea Leaves. I heard they were in this area. I wanted to save money buying them and get them fresh.”
Blinking for a moment, the Keeper smirked as she fetched her claymore. “Well, I guess you have a valid excuse for being here then.” Reaching out her hand, she helped him to his feet. “They’re hard to find at this hour though. You need to wait until very late at night to spot their leaves. You can stay with me until then. Someone’s gotta make sure you stay alive.” L’scial chuckled as she slapped him on the back. “You a crafter?”
“Yeah. My tribe received Saurian skin from a trader from Ivalice. These leaves are the only ones with similar properties to the ones they use to treat it.” The Seeker gave the Keeper a once-over from head to toe. She had silver-white hair tied back into a long braid down her back as she walked away to lead him through the forest. “I guess I should introduce myself. I’m L’scial Tia.”
Pausing in her footsteps, the Moon Keeper turned around and gave a toothy grin. “Renga. Renga Shiryuza.”
Time passed in the scenes with interactions between the two and their love blossomed from there.
Renga slung her pack over her shoulder, looking back into the forest. She could feel the watchful eyes of her kin from the trees, arrows notched as a warning: she was not to ever return to her tribe. Not after she had declared her decision to Eternally Bond with L’scial. Her matriarch ruled Keeper tribe did not approve of the Seeker patriarchal ways of running their tribe-even if L’scial had left his L viper tribe, Renga’s people still looked at the Sun Seeker male with disdain.
L’scial didn’t want to drop his prefix though. He was so used to being called that by others and only Scial by his loved ones-Renga included.
Shifting his satchel of tools and belongings on his back, he held out his hand to Renga. As she turned to look at him with a smile, her Menphina earrings, ones L’scial had crafted her as a proposal gift, shimmered in the sunlight. Taking his hand and entwining her fingers with his while they made their way out of the Black Shroud, their destination unknown.
The memories showed L’scial and Renga traveling around Eorzea until Renga seemed to start having visions, one that L’scial could not experience but he would carefully watch over Renga when she went into a momentary trance. Eventually, the two of them would come across the Path of the Twelve and meet their leader, Louisoix, among other people like Renga who used what is called the Echo.
The second to last of the fleeting memories were of L’scial and Renga the few weeks before Renga went to fight at Carteneau and her most likely demise at the hands of the great dragon that could be seen from the sky malms away.
As the last moments of L’scial’s life before her arrival flowed away, she blinked away the hints of tears before looking back down at the deceased Seeker’s face.
These children, L’nascia and L’rangi, literally had no one. While their parents had befriended the Circle of Knowing, from what it seemed, none of their fates were known; from what L’scial knew, they had all attended the battle. Not even the other comrades Renga had been with.
She delicately moved L’scial’s head off her lap and brought her attention to the two sleeping babies, taking them into her arms to cradle and heal their facial wounds, leaving only large red scars behind. They would lighten when they got older, but the remnants of wounds would forever leave a mark on their faces.
Somehow, she could feel a very strong spiritual connection between the two babies, as if they were linked as if she was originally holding one being instead of two.
She was like that with her sisters, originally one, split into four different bodies who developed. How curious that she would come across two like her, though different.
These two Miqo’te babies' aetheric energy were linked with one another but she also noticed another thing, it seemed like a very new aura that was recently unlocked.
Suddenly, two balls of glowing light appeared from each child’s chest, shining bright, forcing her to shut her eyes. When the light faded and she reopened them, she found herself and the children in her arms surrounded by blackness.
Hear…feel…think…
A woman’s voice echoed out before her as she turned around, her cat ears twitching. She then found herself staring at a giant crystal in the distance in this strange space she was in. The aura coming from the crystal told her that it was no ordinary rock, but a living being itself.
“Who…who are you?” She asked aloud, her voice carrying through the emptiness around them toward the glittering crystal.
I am Hydaelyn, Mother Crystal to this world and this shard. I have sensed the presence of many otherworldly travelers like yourself visiting my realm before. What is thy name oh traveler?
“...Erune.” She hesitated before stating her name and doing her best to bow with the twins in her arms. Be as it may of her power as a deity, she was merely a traveler to this other world, and she felt it important to show respect to this world’s deities.
Hydaelyn’s voice seemed to chuckle as it repeated her name back at her before continuing the conversation.
The two you hold in your arms; their mother was the one to receive my gift and blessings first. But due to her unfortunate demise, it is passed on to the two of them.
That explained the other aura besides the aetheric energy the twin babies shared.
And with it, her Destiny has passed onto them.
Erune jerked her head up in surprise at those words.
In five years, the enemy will make their move. They must be ready to fight against those who wish to cause chaos.
“B--but! They’re only babies!” She protested. “You cannot entrust such a weight onto two newborns!”
They must finish what their mother could not. It is the only way to save this shard. There is a city not too far from here, you may leave them there in the care of the others.
Her lip trembled in frustration. She was once like these children, thrust into a life of fighting not just for the people, but for the Gods themselves. As much as she and her sisters loved their Goddess, her sisters also spurned the deity for allowing the four of them to suffer in various ways, especially herself at such a young age.
She remembered a dear friend of hers who had grown up the life of an orphan. He had grown up bullied and forced to mature at such a young age. His anger and bitterness at much of the world had broken her heart when she had first met him.
She did not wish such a similar fate to the twins she held in her arms. She would not let it happen.
“I will take care of them.” Erune declared. “I promised their father, as was his dying wish.”
***
As the teleportation light disappeared, Erune found herself back in the comfy little cottage she and her sisters called home. She made little cooing hums as the twins squirmed.
“Eru! Welcome back!” Erune almost flinched when her twin sister, Eruno came bounding over towards her. Eruno was the opposite of her, hair and tail an inky black with light green highlights. Swishing behind Eruno was an overly fluffy squirrel tail. “It’s been a few weeks since you went to that other world. How long were you there-” Eruno’s golden eyes blinked at the twin bundles in her arms. “What are those?”
Erune looked at her twin sister with a guilty face. “Um…” Before she could come up with an answer, the two bundles began to make whimpering noises. Her twin reached over and lifted the loose blankets, eyes widening at the sight of the babies.
“Are these, cat-children?”
“Uh…I can explain-”
“Erune.”
She winced when she heard her name being said aloud in a stern voice behind her. Turning around, she saw her elder twin sisters: Eirai who had magenta hair and white highlights with rabbit ears, and Zyllian, with white hair and bat-like demonic horns and an inky black horse-like tail. Eirai was displeased as she spoke again. “Did you forget the oath we took when we were given Her powers as Her descendants?”
“We mustn't interfere with other world’s orders with our powers…” Erune murmured in reply. “We may visit and interact with the world, but we mustn’t impact their stories and destinies that are to happen.”
Snapping her head up, she held the babies to her chest firmly. “Eirai, these two are a special case though. They are like us. Their world’s deity-like being has chosen these babies as their warriors.” She further explained the dilemma the being who was called Hydaelyn had told her. “They are only just born. They will only still be children by the time their enemy begins its attack.”
Looking down at their sleeping faces, her eyes softened. “I…I don’t want them to end up like us, like him . If I leave them to be raised as orphans, there is a high chance of them living saddened lives.” Eyes filled with resolve; she looked back at Eirai. “We four know what it’s like, being ‘Chosen’. I want to raise them and prepare them for what is to come. Train them so they will be ready as adventurers. And” She paused for a moment, looking at her twin sister, Eruno. “I was merely gone for only a few days, but weeks have passed by here, which means, time in their world passes by more slowly than ours. If they grow up here, by the time their enemy is ready, they will be old enough.” Biting her lips, she moved back to face all three of her sisters. “Just this once. I ask for there to be an exception to our Oath.”
Her sisters were silent for a while before Zyllian decided to speak for the first time. “Can I see them?” Nodding, Erune uncovered the children so the others could view them easier. As Zyllian reached out to pet the soft small cat ears, Erune saw her older sister give a gentle smile. “I never got to help raise you two.” Zyllian was referring to Erune and Eruno. Only Eirai was there to help them in their upbringing.
“Erune.” She turned her attention to Eirai, who let out a sigh, her rabbit ears swiveling down as she relented. “If you are certain that us caring for them is the best decision, then very well. We will need to make preparations to raise two children in this household. And work on getting supplies. Even though they will be growing up in our world, they will need to learn all they can about their own to be prepared when it is time for them to go back.”
Zyllian took one of the babies from Erune’s arms to cuddle with a smile. “Thank you, Eirai.” Erune smiled along with her older sister.
***
Five years passed after the Calamity occurred and brought in the Seventh Umbral Era. Many lives were lost, and the recently erected Saint Adama Landama’s Church by Camp Drybone’s cemetery had been filled with many tombstones for identified corpses.
Father Iliud had watched many family members come to mourn the deceased; he remembered every face to the best of his memory. An interesting thing he observed was every year, the same Miqo’te in the colors of light blue and white would come by. Now that would be nothing out of the ordinary in general with this woman, no, it was her two companions.
In the first year of the Seventh Umbral Era, there were two white-haired Miqo’te children who seemed to be around the age of 5, both holding the Miqo’te woman’s hands.
In the second year, the white-haired Miqo'te with the woman appeared to be around the age of 10 this time instead of just a year older. Or maybe perhaps they were just a lot taller?
By the third year, Father Iliud was raising a brow. The two white-haired Miqo’te were teenagers, around 15 to be specific.
In the fourth year, the two white-haired appeared to be in their 20s.
And now, in the fifth year, the two Miqo’te were around 25.
This truly had to be a coincidence for Father Iliud. Surely the two companions with the light blue Miqo’te were not the same ones every year? How in the name of Twelve would they be able to rapidly grow and age every year?
***
Erune stood behind her two adopted children as they knelt and prayed before their birth parents' grave. It had taken the little Goddess a bit of magic to locate their birth mother’s body at Carteneau, but she did and reunited what was left of Renga’s body with L’scial’s before purchasing a tombstone for them.
Every five years-at least from her world, she would take her children to come to pay their respects to their parents. It was the least she could do.
She held a bouquet in her arms and looked at the two orphaned children she had come to call her own.
L’nascia had grown to become a spitfire tomboy whereas her twin brother, L’rangi, was a kind soul, trying to be strong for his loved ones.
She and her sisters had done their best to raise them. Teaching them how to fight, how to survive, how to live. She hoped it was enough, as today would be the last time she would interfere.
It was at least one month since the two of them had turned 25 before she brought them back to this world shard called Hydaelyn. One month to pack up everything they would need and would have to leave behind.
Erune paused in her worrying when her two children finished in their final prayers. Heading down the hill to Camp Drybone’s tavern, she noticed three Chocobo-drawn merchant carts; three men of similar appearances minus the colors of their clothing.
Upon questioning each of them, Erune found that the merchants were brothers, and each was headed off to the three major Eorzean cities. Each cart had enough space for a few hitchhikers.
Nodding her thanks, Erune turned to catch up with her children to let them know of the news.
She gave them a once-over with their gear. L’rangi had a basic axe and L’nascia had a simple healer’s cane. These were the professions of combat they chose upon their final return back to their home world. Even so, they had been trained in different forms of combat. They would find their way.
"Mom…" L’rangi and L'nascia both whispered at the same time as they felt Erune’s hands stroke their cheeks.
"Remember what I told you both? The life of an adventurer will never be easy. Even with all the stories your aunts and I have regaled you with, there was also much sadness along the way."
She looked at L'nascia and nodded her head to the staff on her daughter's back. "Even the healers' path is painful. Not always will you be able to save those you care for, be it their souls did not wish to stay attached to their bodies any longer or the wounds dealt were far too swift and grave."
She then brought her attention back to both of them. "You will come across many people along your journeys, some of whom will become your best friends and companions, others your enemies. And if for some reason, fate decides to take them away, I know it will be tough and you will grieve. But always treasure the memories you had with them.
"I have gone through such heartbreak myself, multiple times. Sometimes I just wanted to give up being an adventurer and put away my staff. But I realized if I did so, even if there was another person to take up the helm of being an adventurer, their choices wouldn't be the same as mine. Even if I couldn't save everyone, the ones I did save, it mattered greatly to them. If another person took my place, they may end up saving someone else and the ones I was to have saved would be lost. To me, it is better when more people work to help others, and that's why I continued to keep going on my journey."
L'nascia and L'rangi said nothing as they watched their adoptive mother blink back her tears. "Your aunts and I had made a vow to never meddle with another world's order.
"Whatever happens to you here, we will not interfere with your world and your people. I know it will be a rough road for both of you in many ways and if terrible things happen in your journey, unfortunately, we cannot help either of you.
"I had already broken that vow to save the two of you and raise you both. But I must go back to the oath I had made before I came across you two." She closed her eyes, letting the tears gently fall down her cheeks. "I am sorry." She said with a whisper.
L'nascia was the first to tightly hug her adoptive mother, L'rangi second, wrapping his arms around both of them.
"Mom…" L'rangi choked. "Thank you for everything you have done for Nascia and me."
“Yeah…” L’nascia laughed while she tried to hold back her tears. “You and Auntie Eruno, Auntie Zyllian, and Auntie Eirai.” Erune reached up to wipe her daughter’s eyes.
“Nascia, Rangi.” Erune reached into her pocket and took out a set of earrings. “Your father gave me these. He made them for your mother. They represent Menphina, your mother’s patron” She reached up and put one earring in each of the twin’s ears before kissing both of their cheeks. “Your parents would be proud to see you both now.” Leaning forward, she presses her forehead against both of theirs. “Your mother and father and your aunts and I will all be watching over you both.”
***
Brendt watched the Miqo’te woman bid a tearful goodbye to the twins in front of her. The twins were each heading off in the different directions his triplet siblings were headed: the sister to Gridania, the brother to Vesper Bay to take a ship to Limsa Lominsa.
He looked at the Miqo’te woman again. Her garb was very fancy, almost as if she had come from Ul’dah-his own destination at the moment or even Sharlayan.
“Say, Miss?” Brendt called out the white-haired Miqo’te, who turned to acknowledge him. “Need a lift home since it seems ya aren’t going the way me brothers are. The only other direction to head in the Thanalan desert is to Ul’dah. I got an extra room on the cart.”
The woman smiled at him before he turned to look at the caravan to make sure it wasn’t too crowded to take any passengers. “Thank you for the offer but, my home is elsewhere, and I can make it back all right.”
“You sure? Traveling alone can be quite dangerous by oneself-” Brendt turned around to address the woman but she was gone, a few white feathers falling in the air where she would have been, leaving the Hyur bewildered.
***
"Just sign your name here then!" The elezen woman calling herself Mother Miounne turned her registry book around on the counter to face the white-haired Miqo'te woman.
Thousands of malms away from Gridania, in Limsa Lominsa's Drowning Wench inn, Baderon handed over a quill to the white-haired Miqo'te man before him. "Gonna need yer name and then yer all set to start yer life as an adventurer!"
Both brother and sister scrawled their names on the books and handed the books back to their rightful caretakers.
It was in these moments that their fates on this star began to turn. The lives theirs, destined, forced upon a path of unknowing, an unending journey for the both of them together.
While separated, for now, they would be back together as needed for their story to be told together, as fate would have it since before their very birth.