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It was a fine day to be an adventurer.
A quick hunt for a fair bit of reward had turned into a task of much greater value when they happened upon a merchant clamoring for last minute sellswords to bear his wares onto a ferry. To think the merchant was so well off and so thankful that he would give them each a bag of seven hundred gil! Add that to their pay of three hundred each from hunting veritable beasts and they were coming home with one thousand gil easily pocketed. Such luck left them wondering what divine force could have blessed them with such wealth. The thousand did not even include the extra few hundred from selling what they had gathered on the hunt or the worth of whatever other spoils they had kept for themselves. Money like this would keep them well fed for a week or two—depending on one’s personal level of indulgence, of course.
Dajh’ir thought he’d take it easy for a time and save these funds for a larger trip should he need them in the future. His fellow adventurers, however, decided to celebrate their luck with mugs of ale, and he wasn’t about to turn them down.
Since they were in Limsa, what better place than The Drowning Wench to spend their coin? The alehouse was soon filled with the sound of merry-making sailors and celebrating adventures alike.
“Cheers to ourselves for a hard day’s work!” shouted their lancer.
“Here, here!” Cried their healer next, and she took her mug and bumped it with theirs. Dajh’ir raised his own mug in the air with a grin, lounged back in his chair with one leg comfortably resting over the other.
They were a band of five today, three short a regular eight and one plus a common four, but they were no less lively. He was content to observe their regaling of tales, only occasionally offering a few words of his own.
Their healer, a Miqo’te like himself though not a Keeper, had already pounded down four mugs and was havering to the next table over. L’nadia Jenma was a fast drinker and quick to get friendly after the deed was done.
“Easy, my lady. No need to be so hasty. The drink’s not going anywhere.” Dajh’ir said to her.
She spun unsteadily around.
“Your mug’ll only ferment further from how long you let it sit! I’ve earned a stiff drink after dealing with you lot and your reckless abandon in battle.”
“I’ve been most careful, so you mustn’t be talking about me.”
“Oh no. Never you. You’re the responsible one. It’s an attractive quality to have.”
She took a seat next to him and cuddled against his arm with a purr.
“What are you waiting for? Take a load off. Have another drink~”
“I may, but I have places to be.” He denied politely and slipped his arm from her loose grasp.
He waved to the bartender and pointed at her, who was happy to get the wrong idea.
“Water down this lady’s next few drinks, would you?”
“Hey!”
Dajh’ir took a swig from his mug and swirled its contents around.
“So you won’t be staying with us?” Chimed in the lancer. “That’s a shame. You and your knives made quick work of the beasts today.”
“That is the way of it. I do my job, I get my pay, and my path will, more often than not, lead me elsewhere. But that doesn’t mean ours won’t cross again. I simply need to get away for a spell.”
“Plan to spend your share on a vacation?” Came another in their group, a bard happily on his second ale.
“Not quite.”
“Oh do share with us. We’d like to know the reason you’ll be leaving our merry band, then we can properly wish you well on your way.”
“I merely enjoy traveling alone when I can afford it.” Dahj’ir replied lightly. “Easier to forget your troubles, that way.”
He finished off his ale and set the mug down on the table.
“I’ll have another if you don’t mind.”
“I’ll get it.” L’nadia offered impishly. “One finely brewed mug of ale an’ water coming right up.”
She sauntered away, swaying her tail from side to side. Dahj’ir shook his head and shrugged.
“I suppose I get what I deserve. Oh, the burden of being responsible...”
“Thought she’d have her way with ye?” Chimed their burly Roegadyn companion. He followed with one of his hearty laughs. “Hah! Lass had her eyes on you all day!”
“I’m flattered, but I’m nowhere near as muscle bound as you, if that’s her type. Makes one wonder what she sees in me.”
“Oi! You’re not too bad, yerself. Them arms’ll attract any lass, by my reckoning.”
Dajh’ir laughed, but a chorus of rough-voiced greetings pull his attention toward someone who had just arrived to The Drowning Wench.
This visitor was a maiden in his book by her fair features, small, and with two recognizable slim white horns.
“Look who it is...”
“Ah, Mayumi!” Called the Roedagyn immediately. Mayumi turned to his boisterous voice. She addressed him by name and with an excited wave.
“Hello!” She beamed and strode her way over. “Fancy meeting you here!”
“Aye! It is!”
“Celebrating, I see?”
“Yes!” Came the lancer. “A stroke of good luck! And what have we here but another fortunate chance meeting. A pleasure to see you again, Miss Kharmion.”
He stood and bowed. Mayumi smiled and gave a courteous nod in return.
“Such flowery words, Valquelin.” Dajh’ir said.
“It’s only polite, Dajh’ir. You are a gentleman, are you not? Have you no words for our kindest friend, who has lent her aid to us many times?”
“But of course! I say she is just as fair as we last saw her, wouldn’t you agree?”
Mayumi responded with a knowing look and placed her hands on hips, though she did give him a smile.
“It’s nice to know you haven‘t changed since our last meeting.”
“I try to manage expectations. Why don’t you join us in the merrymaking?”
“There’s a familiar face,” cut in L’nadia, having just returned with her watered down mugs of ale. She set one down loudly in front of Dajh’ir. The drink’s normally strong scent was considerably lessened having been mixed with water, much to his disappointment. It was ironically sobering.
“What brings you here, Mayumi?”
Being asked, Mayumi appeared to have just recalled something.
“Oh— I’m meeting someone. Very soon, actually, so... I’ll have to decline your offer, Dajh’ir.”
“And what did you offer her?” asked a suspicious L’nadia, getting the wrong idea once again.
“I offered her to join us! But the maiden doesn’t have time.” He said defensively, but she was unconvinced.
A chorus of disappointment came from the other members of the party.
“A shame you shan’t be,” their Roegadyn began. “We do miss your sword and shield in battle!”
“And you did much raise our spirits when you were around,” their bard mussed. “I miss your competence most of all. There are only so many words our ol’ Roegadyn friend can understand, and I daresay you can take a hit better than him, too.”
“Aye, but I get the job done, don’t I!?”
“I suppose you do. The coin is good in the end.”
“I really enjoyed being a team with you all,” Mayumi admitted. “But I’m not in it for the money right now.”
“Of course. Miss Kharmion has her values.” Valquelin stated and glanced sideways at the bard. “Don’t impose on them, Faran.”
The bard, Faran, turned up his nose.
“I did no such thing. It was merely a point worth mentioning.”
“Hmm. We’ll, as it so happens, our own Dajh’ir will be walking the wanderer’s path soon.”
Mayumi took interest.
“You are?”
Dajh’ir unwillingly took a sip from his mug.
“A young man like myself needs time away every now and again.”
“Unaccompanied? How dull.” L’nadia remarked, equally unhappy with her drink.
“Ah— You’ve lost interest?”
“That depends, would you accept becoming a party of two tonight?”
“Hmm. I would have to decline.”
“Then no. I’m still very interested.”
She peered over her mug at him as she drank, now appearing to be deeply savoring it.
What was that saying about forbidden fruit again?
“I really must be going.” Mayumi said after tossing bewildered glances in L’nadia’s direction and taking a few careful steps away.
Dajh’ir sat up.
“Already? Whoever you’re waiting for, he’s not here yet. I see no reason you can’t stay a moment longer.”
“I’d love to, but... It’s just not a good time.”
“Ah! Of course! You’re here to see someone. Mayhap you expect a date?”
“Dajh’ir—” Valquelin and Mayumi had said at once.
“It’s a harmless question!”
“Is that man bothering you, Mayumi?”
The group turned at once to spot a white-haired man waking up to them. He was another bard, by the look of his garb. Dajh’ir grinned and gestured with his mug.
“A handsome fellow, but a little old for her, isn’t he?” He whispered to the party.
“He’s not here for a date—!” Mayumi hissed back then addressed her arriving companion. “No, Thancred. Just some adventurers I know. Nothing to worry about.”
“That’s a relief. I wouldn’t have liked to cause a scene.”
Thancred stood at her side.
“Now then, at risk of being rude, I’m afraid I have to take our mutual friend off your hands. We have business to attend to, so if you’ll forgive us...”
When this “Thancred” turned his head to look at Mayumi, Dajh’ir spotted a peculiar tattoo on his neck.
What did that mark mean?
He could have sworn he had seen it once before. Now that he thought about it, the owner looked familiar as well. Surely he was a man that had been many places. It would be the only explanation.
“Pray, do not let us impose on your meeting,” Valquelin said, mannerly as always. Thancred smiled and gestured for Mayumi to take her leave.
“My thanks. Happy merrymaking.”
Mayumi said her goodbyes and well wishes as well then promptly left with her alleged friend.
“Off she goes,” Faran announced. “She’s a busy girl. I wonder what that man has to do with her. Do you think he’s trouble?”
“No more trouble than you,” Dajh’ir remarked and set his mug on the table. His eyes scarcely left the pair as they exchanged words from afar. Only when they disappeared in the night outside did he return his gaze to his companions. Still, he too found himself wondering what business Mayumi had gotten herself into.
~*~
“Comrades of yours?” Thancred had asked once they had exited the Drowning Wench. Both thought it best to have their discussion in a place with less familiar faces and less lively crowds. They ended up somewhere outside, secluded from the nighttime crowds by a set of stone stairs.
“You could say that. Before I left Ul’dah, I traveled with them often as an adventurer. It was nice to see them, but I’m sorry to lose our original meeting spot.”
Thancred shrugged, unbothered by the loss.
“Ah. No harm done. Someone in our line of work can tire of bars and taverns for every meeting, which brings us back to the reason we are here. I trust you have been apprised.”
Thancred’s casually cheerful demeanor became a serious one.
“After the Amal’jaa’s summoning of Ifrit, we must needs take every precaution to prevent another beast tribe from committing the same act. As you may or may not know already, summoning a primal requires no small amount of aether which is more often than not supplied by crystals. This where you come in. Your skills would be best put to use tracking odd crystal shipments or artifacts of known primal worship should they suddenly become unaccounted for. Anything of note—kidnappings, suspicious activity, anything of the sort— you are to report it to the Antecedent at once.”
“Of course.” Mayumi confirmed with a nod. Thancred went on.
“To my knowledge, our new hero is presently touring the city-states to have her pick of a Grand Company. While she is preoccupied with such tasks, we will busy ourselves with our own. You may rendezvous with Archon Y’shtola should you see her. Until then, I leave the loose tongues of Limsa Lominsa in your care.”
“Until then.”
His serious expression faded, and he appeared to find something amusing about hers.
“You know, in such a small amount of time, you’ve become quite the surrogate Scion in Tataru’s eyes. Have you considered officially joining the cause?”
Mayumi blinked. “Me?”
“Yes.” He crossed his arms, garnering further amusement. “By your befuddled expression, I’m assuming you have not thought of it until now.”
“I- I haven’t.”
She had only arrived at the Waking Sands to help Arielle and repay a favor, but she found that the place needed an extra hand or two in certain areas she excelled in, or so the receptionist Tataru explained when she arrived.
Tataru was impressed (and equally unnerved) Mayumi had found the Waking Sands and so much about the place and its affairs entirely on her own. Interest rose when she went on about how relieved she was to learn that a primal was defeated and that she had come to see Arielle, whom she had met once or twice before. Tataru must have seen something in her, for after that was when she extended their recruitment and claimed she fit the bill. “Exactly the kind they were looking for” she had said.
How excited she was to hear that! It was her first real job in a while, for a good cause, and not to mention so close to the ever-inspiring Arielle. This particular task she volunteered for right away and, shortly after, met Thancred, whom she understood she was taking duties from to lessen his load.
She had to admit she hadn’t thought much farther than that. The words “Scions of the Seventh Dawn” hadn’t even crossed her mind since she last heard Tataru say them. Not even after being filled in on the entire primal situation by the Antecedent Minfilia herself. Perhaps her overzealous, unannounced arrival and information dump had startled them into giving her a job; a precaution should what she knew reach the wrong ears. Mayumi was almost instantly abashed by the thought.
“Something to think about when all the watching gets boring. Try not to doze off, though. It wouldn’t do to be sleeping on your first job.”
“I will— I mean I’ll consider it! The Scion part; not the sleeping on the job, of course.”
Despite her stammering reply, Thancred appeared satisfied with it despite his curious glance.
“Glad to hear it.” He affirmed and began about making his exit. “Here is where I leave you. I have tasks of my own to attend to. Farewell, and do be careful.”
~*~
“I’m only surprised she didn’t answer yes when I asked if she had been experiencing strange visions!” declared Tataru. “The girl checked every box I could think of, and I barely had to ask! She was just as excited as those grand company ambassadors; only she was polite enough not to barge in. I thought it was only best that she channeled her energy into a good cause. It’s not every day we get a visitor like that. And she accepted very little pay, you know.”
“I believe your praises of Arielle had spread far enough to reach her and bring her to us.” Minfilia replied genially. “You’ve made a good choice Tataru. Mayumi wears her heart on her sleeve.”
The two Scions were seated at a table having tea. The hour was late and the opportunity for rest had gladly come upon them. The Antecedent most of all was thankful for this moment of respite.
“Well... I ran a background check on her just in case our instincts were wrong. Thankfully they were not! According to the Adventurer’s Guild, she’s helped nearly everyone in Ul’dah before coming here.”
“Indeed she has.” Minfilia had a knowing tone in her voice. Perhaps her gift had leant her some insight.
“She’s awfully young for someone with her skills…” Tataru noted, staring into her tea. “I can’t help but wonder what she was doing before she got here. She claims to have come from Thanalan but… she doesn’t quite look like the average resident, if you get what I mean.”
There were many youthful faces taking up the job of an adventurer these days. Although each had their own story, one could easily assume many were children who lived on the street or in impoverished homes who had grown up to become them. It was better that than a mercenary without a cause. The Adventurer’s Guild has done much to solve that problem since the Calamity. But Mayumi’s origins extended beyond these facts, seeing that she wasn’t a race native to Eorzea.
“We may not know now, but perhaps she’ll be willing to share one day.” Minfilia said, finding she was wondering as well. “If it isn’t too soon to say, I would hope she finds a new home in us. I have a feeling we would benefit from each other.”
There was something in Mayumi’s eyes when they met, and Minfilia felt as if she could peer into her very soul. She had eyes like Arielle: determined, kind, and honest eyes. Eyes befitting a Warrior of Light. It was then that the Echo saw fit to show her a glimpse into her past, where she witnessed her honest deeds for herself. There was no doubt in her heart. This girl, Mayumi Kharmion, could be trusted; could be guided.
Minfilia laid a hand over her heart and offered a silent prayer.
Master Louisoix had always guided those who walked on wandering paths without purpose into realizing their talents and how best to use them for the greater good. She only hoped that she could guide them as well as he had guided her, like he had guided many long before the Calamity. She owed it to his memory.
“Should she choose to join us, I would happily accept her.”
“I would, too!” Piped Tataru. “She got along with Thancred well enough. I can easily say that they saw eye to eye when it came to strategy. They were practically of one mind before they set out. I’d say she is meant to be a Scion! Much like our Arielle.”
Hearing her friend give voice to what she herself felt, Minfilia smiled.
“Perhaps she is.”