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Pim entered the UUPS house garden and walked up to the front door. He was just about to knock when he had to jump back to avoid someone swinging the door open and striding out.
“Oh hello, you’re early, the meeting won’t start for quite a while yet,” a hyur woman said.
“Ah no, I came to look for an elderly miqo’te author, would she happen to be here?” Pim asked.
“You must mean I’dofya, but she only comes to our book-selling events. What do you want with her?”
“I’d like to buy more of her books for my friend for Starlight, but the local booksellers were all out.”
“Hmm, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind the business opportunity, let me write down the address for you.”
As the woman went inside to find writing implements, Pim peeked into the house. He didn’t see much from his angle, just a shaggy rug and a table with a pink doily on it. The faint aroma of old books floated from somewhere deeper within.
“There, tell her Mags sent you if she has any complaints.”
“Thank you very much,” Pim said and turned to leave. The address written on a piece of paper was on the other side of town, so he started running to get there faster. He dashed past merchants and guards and people going about their day, winding nimbly around them. It didn’t take him long to reach the residential area.
After running around for a bit, Pim’s eyes fell on the house number he was looking for on a gate decorated with pink flowers. Hoping it was the correct one, he walked through. Inside the yard was a small stone house surrounded by leafy trees that looked half-dead. Pim stepped up to the door and knocked.
“Hello dear, what brings you here?” I’dofya asked as soon as she opened. She seemed bemused, though not irritated.
“Your trees need watering,” Pim said and pointed behind him.
“My nephew takes care of them. Did you come to talk about gardening?”
“Oh no, I wish to purchase your books.”
I’dofya nodded with surprised appreciation. “They’ve been out of print for a while now, but I do have some copies I can sell to you. Come inside, let me get them for you.”
Pim thanked her and followed her in. Despite being an elder miqo’te, I’dofya seemed to live like any city-dweller. The house had furniture that didn’t draw Pim’s attention in any way, and no decorations to hint at a possible tribal past. He sat on a large armchair with leather upholstery while I’dofya went to her desk in front of a window in the spacious living room.
“There’s some juice in the ice box if you’re thirsty, it will take me a moment to find what copies I have,” I’dofya said and nodded towards a doorway. Pim took the hint and got up to let her rummage through her things in peace.
The kitchen was as nondescript as the rest of the house. A pale yellow rug on the floor looked like it had seen better days, with at least one mysterious stain marring its surface. Pim stepped around it and opened the ice box.
“Who are you?”
Pim whipped around, holding a chicken leg like a dagger in his hand. A young Seeker man who was built like a brick shed had appeared in the doorway.
“And what are you doing with my dinner?”
“I’m looking for juice. I’do… I’da told me to,” Pim said, putting the chicken leg back inside the ice box.
“I’da? Just who are you, where did you come from, and what are you doing here?”
The man came closer, crossing the room in three strides. As he approached, Pim realised how firm his muscles looked.
“Uhh I’m Pim, I came to buy books from I’da, the uhh, lady in the other room.”
“I’dofya?” the man narrowed his eyes. “It’s usually young girls that read her material. What do you want with her?”
“Just the books, nothing else,” Pim said and took a step back. His tail encountered the wall.
“I’m confirming that, come along. And close the door.”
Pim pushed the ice box door shut and followed the man, taking note of how furiously the tufted end of his tail whipped back and forth. They entered the living room and the man cleared his throat to draw I’dofya’s attention away from her desk drawers.
“I’yon dear, what is it? I see you met our guest.”
“Just checking that a tramp didn’t wander in. Can never be too careful.”
“Oh don’t be so distrustful. Not everyone who enters is after my wealth.”
“Auntie! Don’t tell that to every random person!”
I’yon pinched the bridge of his nose while I’dofya smiled. “It will all be out of the house tomorrow anyway. You shall not have to worry about your silly old aunt not keeping secrets.”
“Where does it go?” Pim asked, earning a glare from I’yon.
“Absolutely none of your business.”
“Do be polite. I’m sending supplies for the I tribe, mostly non-perishable goods and medicine,” I’dofya said and smirked at I’yon, as if gaining pleasure from defying him.
“Auntie, you can’t tell strangers our private matters, he could rob us now, knowing we’re in possession of valuables. And then what happens to the tribe.”
“Umm, if you’re taking medicine to them, do they need a healer too?” Pim asked. Both turned to look at him.
“We’re not that wealthy, do you have any idea how much it would cost to hire a healer for such a trek in the desert,” I’yon said heatedly.
“I could go,” Pim suggested.
“See, he’s after our money! No! I don’t care how much you ask for it, the need isn’t that desperate, we can take care of our own.”
“My money, dearest.” I’dofya looked Pim up and down and nodded. “How qualified are you? And what would you ask as compensation?”
“The adventure would be payment enough. And well, may I?” Pim raised his hand and approached I’dofya. I’yon tried to protest, but she gave him permission to demonstrate his skill.
Pim fed her body a small amount of his aether and followed its path, examining all irregularities he found. As expected for an elderly person, he encountered some severe erosion in the joints. He placed thin layers of cushioning aether down and anchored them in place. The pain relief wouldn’t last long before the body would absorb the aether, but the effect should remain at least for the rest of the day. When he pulled back, she was looking at him with a slight flush on her cheeks.
“Oh honey, what a gentle touch you have. No potion is this… precise. He knows what he’s doing,” she told her nephew.
I’yon stood with his arms crossed on his chest. “I’m not bringing a random stranger along, we know nothing about him.”
“Even if he would be able to help save lives? You know how many hardships the tribe encounters in the desert.”
I’dofya’s words had an effect. I’yon frowned, and slowly unfurled his arms. He turned to Pim with a calculating glare.
“Are you from a clinic or a free company? Adventurers’ guild? Why do you want to join?”
Pim gave the name of his company, eliciting a reluctantly approving nod from I’yon, and said he did a lot of adventuring. “And it sounds like your tribe might often need a healer but not have access to one. How could I not offer to help them?”
“You’re hired dear,” I’dofya said. “I’yon will provide everything you need for the trip, and I will pay you when you get back.”
“I don’t really need anything, though I won’t say no to cake,” Pim said with a smile.
“We will negotiate when you return,” I’dofya said. “How soon can you leave?”
“I’ll retrieve my staff and tell the company I’ll be gone for a bit, then I’m ready to go. How long will it take?”
“A few days. Is that a problem?” I’yon asked, looking sour over his aunt’s decision.
“No, I just need to ask someone to water my plants.”
“Excellent, off you youngsters go then, first thing tomorrow,” I’dofya said in a tone that suggested she would be accepting no arguments. I’yon nodded begrudgingly.
“Fine. Be here before dawn,” he said to Pim. “Wear something appropriate for the desert.”
“Will do!” Pim said with great enthusiasm and took his leave, forgetting all about the books he’d originally come for. He headed directly to the lodge to start packing. He hadn’t spent much time in the desert outside the city, he only knew it would be very hot. He’d also need to pilfer some potions from the infirmary, and perhaps other supplies. And emergency biscuits, those should never run out at a critical moment on a mission.
*****
Pim appeared in I’dofya’s garden well before dawn on the following day. He had a small backpack with potions, bandages, clean underwear, and little else. As soon as I’yon stepped outside and saw him, he sighed.
“Have you learned nothing living in Ul’dah? Wait there,” I’yon said and returned inside. Pim watched him go, mystified. He thought he looked ready for the trip: he had his bag, good shoes and a sleeveless vest with shorts. Perhaps he should’ve brought more water skins?
I’yon came back out again holding a thin white linen robe and a wide-brimmed hat. “You moongazers burn before the sun is even properly up. Put these on, I won’t listen to you whine when your pale ass is charred.”
Pim obeyed, finding the robe too large for him, but rolling up the sleeves helped. I’yon was dressed in a similar manner, and carrying several large bags and pouches all over his person. Pim slipped his ears through the holes in the hat and declared himself ready to go.
“Once we reach the desert, you’ll do exactly as I say, do you understand? It’s a hostile environment for someone with no experience of it.”
“I understand,” Pim said. Despite I’yon’s warnings, he was excited for the trip, to see something new he hadn’t explored before.
I’yon grunted and started leading them away from the residential district. The city was quiet so early in the morning, but not without some traffic. Merchants were transporting their wares, guards were patrolling their rounds, and some late revellers were making their way home. I’yon led them to the aetheryte crystal at a brisk pace, not stopping or slowing down even when they passed a stall with the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked bread rising from it. At the aetheryte, he said Forgotten Springs three times and had Pim repeat it twice before they jumped through.
The air was still cool and fresh when they emerged on the other side, some morning dew clinging to the sparse patches of grass on the ground. I’yon took a moment to get his bearings and started heading out of the village without delay. There were even fewer people out than in Ul’dah, though some watched them curiously. Pim waved at a small child that passed by with its parent, earning an enthusiastic wave from the child and a glare from the adult in return.
“U tribe,” I’yon said in a tone that suggested he’d uttered something filthy.
They continued further from the village, soon hitting the endless sea of sand that was the Sagolii desert. The sun was peeking over the horizon, not bringing much warmth with it yet, but the air had the promise of intense heat. I’yon led them over the closest dune, and their long journey began.
“How far is it to your tribe’s camp?” Pim asked after they’d walked for the better part of the morning, with the sun now blazing on them.
“Tired already?” I’yon asked with an unimpressed expression. “We’ve barely started, I expect us to reach them in the late afternoon at the earliest, provided there are no… delays.”
“Why does your tribe live so far in the middle of the desert? There’s nothing here, just sand and… sun.”
“The sun is everywhere,” I’yon said.
“Not under the thick canopy of the Shroud. We could go days without direct sunlight.”
“No wonder you’re so pale, like the belly of a bottom-feeding fish.”
The conversation fizzled out again and they walked in silence. Pim was uncomfortably hot and the dry sand made him constantly thirsty. His frequent sipping of water made I’yon take his canteen away and tell him to regulate more carefully. Pim’s grumbles about the forest being filled with streams was met with a scoff.
When the sun finally started descending, I’yon declared they were close to the tribe’s territory. Pim saw absolutely no difference in the endless dunes, but evidently I’yon recognised some features. They kept trekking on, climbing a dune that felt higher than any before.
“Is this thing growing taller the longer we walk on it?” Pim asked, panting for breath.
“No,” I’yon replied. He sounded distracted, prompting Pim to lift his gaze to him. I’yon had already reached the top of the sand hill and was looking around. Pim forced his body into squeezing a bit more speed out to go join him.
“Oh! Is that your tribe?” Pim asked as soon as he saw a collection of tents and people in the valley below the dune. There was a small oasis with a few palm trees and scraggly bushes growing around a pond.
“Indeed.” I’yon started descending, whistling like a bird as he went. There were some whistles in response, and people started approaching him. Pim followed at a slower pace. He was eager to reach the water, but too tired to muster up the speed in the loose sand, despite the downward slope.
I’yon greeted his tribe with more emotion than Pim had heard from him before. A small girl ran up to him and I’yon lifted her high in the air, spun around with her a couple of times, and hugged her tightly.
“Welcome back,” a large man said. He had enough decorations and expensive materials on him that Pim assumed he was the leader. He didn’t know much about Seeker customs, but he had the faint notion that they weren’t led by matriarchs.
“Thank you. I have the usual supplies and I brought a healer,” I’yon said, indicating Pim with his head. This caused a small stir in the tribe, with some disjointed whispers reaching Pim’s ears.
“A healer, huh? Is I’dofya doing so well that she can afford to spend recklessly?” the assumed leader asked.
“Her finances remain her business,” I’yon said in a tone that implied the topic would not be revisited. “Just put him to work.”
The tall man nodded, his multiple earrings clinking and glistening in the light of the setting sun. “You know we take care of our own, but suppose we should take advantage of the offering. There was another sandworm attack recently, never seen one so big or vicious.”
“What do you expect, camping so close to watering holes,” I’yon said with detectable derision. The tall man scoffed.
“The attack was three days ago, far from here. Perhaps you don’t remember how traditional life works, in your cosy city.”
“At least I bathe regularly,” I’yon said and cracked a smile. The one Pim presumed to be the leader slapped him on the shoulder and laughed heartily.
“Come on, let’s eat and you can show us what you’ve brought this time. We have a big sack of jewellery ready, found a rich deposit of the shiny blue rocks the fancy folks like, should give decent prices.”
I’yon nodded and followed the man, still carrying the little girl with him. She hadn’t said anything, just clung to him as if he were a large teddy bear. Pim approached the pond with them as well. He quickly counted about thirty people, a sizable tribe in his eyes. Many were looking at him curiously, and an elderly woman approached him.
“You are a conjurer, dear?” she asked after looking him up and down. Her eyes lingered on his staff.
“Yes, may I help you?”
“Quite possibly. Once you have taken some refreshment and rested after the journey, ask to be directed to I’futma’s tent where I am caring for those who were injured in the latest sandworm attack. Some of the bite wounds have turned foul and one has failed to respond to all treatment so far. Perhaps magical healing would be the turning point.”
“I can come right now if you lead the way,” Pim said eagerly.
“No no dear, sit for a bit first. It is not vitally urgent yet,” the old woman said with genuine warmth in her voice. Pim nodded and promised to come soon. When he turned to find I’yon, he was already lounging by the pond with a cup in his hand and the little girl in his lap.
“News from the city? Nothing too exciting, unless you’re interested in petty squabbles amongst the overly wealthy and the pompous. We might be looking at a tax increase soon unless reason wins. You know how it go-”
I’yon’s words were cut short by a deep rumble nearby. Pim had no idea what it meant, but everyone around him reacted immediately. The tall man next to I’yon grabbed his spear from the ground, and a woman ran in to collect the young child. I’yon cursed vehemently and pulled his short sword out.
“Sandworm!”
Pim pulled his staff off his back and turned around, trying to see something approaching, but apart from the growing sound somewhere deep below the sand towards the desert, he could detect no sign of danger.
“To the pond!” someone shouted. Pim looked behind him and saw many of the tribesfolk wading into the water, as deep as they could go. Some of the tents had fallen in the chaos, with others trying to escape danger and others trying to meet it with weapons held high.
“What does the sandworm do?” Pim asked I’yon who was next to him.
“It’ll rip you apart unless it swallows you whole. Mind the tail.”
There was no more time for words. In a spray of sand, something enormous shot out from underground, rising high enough to block the stars. Pim stared in awe as a great worm turned towards them and sought them with its gaze. No, there were no eyes on the massive head, just a circular mouth full of sharp teeth and whiskers not unlike those of a mole. I’yon stood absolutely still, barely seeming to breathe. Pim copied him in the hopes that they were trying to escape the worm’s detection. But it was not fooled. The head shot towards them with the maw gaping wide open.
“Run!” I’yon shouted and shoved Pim to the side. The worm reacted quickly and lunged for him. Pim watched in horror as its maw snapped shut just ilms from where I’yon had stood before jumping aside.
“Move!”
Pim was roused into action. While the worm recovered from its failed attack, he and I’yon ran towards the pond which seemed to provide some level of protection from the beast. I’yon sprinted faster, but stopped just short of the water and turned around.
“Get in!” he yelled. Pim obeyed, hearing the worm lunge again over the splashing of water. He looked over his shoulder in time to see I’yon make another leap out of the way of the worm’s maw, except this time he spun around and aimed his sword at the side of its neck. His slash was quick, but the worm was quicker. It recoiled from the attack and rammed its tail to I’yon’s side from behind, knocking him to the ground. As soon as I’yon was back on his feet, the worm slid in and closed its jaws around his leg, sharp teeth sinking into the middle of his thigh, bringing forth a gush of blood.
“I’yon!” someone shouted. The other warriors closed in on the beast and struck its head anywhere they could reach while it was preoccupied with its prey. After a deep cut to its whiskers, it let go of I’yon and tried to retreat, but the tribe was incensed and managed to sink enough weapons into it to slow it and finally stop it. Blood seeped into the sand, but most of it didn’t come from the worm.
“Let me through!” Pim shouted as he started running towards I’yon’s fallen form. As he got closer, he saw that his leg was nearly bitten through, hanging on only by a thin strip of muscle. “Don’t touch him!”
Pim dropped to his knees and put his hands on the wound. He didn’t stop to draw in aether, instead using his own reserve directly to get the bleeding under control as quickly as possible. The severed artery had already spilled more than he considered safe, any more and he might as well not bother. He emanated powerful healing energy to urge the artery to seal its end, spreading the effect into the smaller blood vessels as well, anything that was bleeding.
“Bring clean water, the sand needs to be rinsed off. I’m going to try reattaching,” Pim said quickly, his mouth articulating the words before they fully registered to him. The wound wasn’t neat: the worm’s sharp teeth had torn the leg apart with jagged edges left behind and the bone crushed. But there was a chance, and he was going to take it.
“You heard him, fetch a bucket!” someone said sharply. Pim barely listened to the chaos going on around him. All his focus was on controlling the injury, keeping the severed veins from spilling their contents while trying to maintain what circulation in the leg he could manage through the remaining ones.
“Here, our drinking water,” someone said as a bucket was placed next to him on the sand. Pim withdrew enough to acknowledge it.
“When I say so, pour it over the wound, and hold the leg up carefully. Alright?” Pim asked, not knowing who he was talking to and caring little, as long as they possessed steady hands. He was drawing in aether now, finding plenty from the air and the vegetation by the pond.
“Understood.”
Pim took a deep breath and tried to push every thought out from his head. He was about to do something he’d never done before with success, something he wasn’t sure he was capable of doing. His last failure still haunted him, but he refused to acknowledge it. If he wanted any chance of succeeding, his mind couldn’t afford to waver even the tiniest bit.
“Start now,” Pim said. He left those around him to do the cleaning while he dove into I’yon’s flow, finding his patterns and rhythm, and integrating himself into them, ready to guide them where needed with bursts of his own aether. I’yon might not be proficient in controlling his aether, but it certainly wanted to be made whole. Pim felt the pull and gave it power, aiding the process with fuel and guidance while I’yon’s aether attracted his muscles and nerves and bones and veins together, infused with the man’s formidable will and sense of wholeness.
“Yes, keep going,” Pim mumbled. He helped the tissues that the worm’s teeth had torn apart to reform into something that could find its place in the structure of the leg. A stubborn sinew could not find its pair and was leaking aether in the search. He gently grasped it with the flow and connected it to where it needed to go, forming a seal with his own aether to hold it fast.
One by one the parts fused together and the leg became whole again. The more uninterrupted aether flow it got, the stronger the connections grew and harmonised. The lost blood would need to regenerate on its own but enough remained inside I’yon to keep him alive. With someone holding the leg up after the cleaning, no sand was contaminating the wound. Pim used his fingers to help the skin stretch together where it had been torn, and soon enough the site was more or less sealed, with thin new skin covering the still fragile repair underneath.
“How is this possible?” someone’s voice came from far away. Pim latched onto it and followed it back into his own body, detaching slowly from I’yon. He was stable for now, but even the smallest disruption to the aether flow or physical impact could undo everything they’d accomplished.
“Put the leg down, and don’t move it,” Pim said. He was surprised by how much effort speaking took. Moving clumsily, he reached for his pocket and took out an ether potion. Someone uncorked it for him when his hands shook too much to accomplish the simple task, and guided the bottle to his lips.
“We’ll need to move I’yon to the camp. Putting him on a stretcher should keep the leg still enough to not aggravate it. Get to work,” Pim heard someone say. He realised he knew no one, his only connection lying unconscious on the sand.
“His vitals are surprisingly strong,” an old woman said as she held her hand on I’yon’s chest. Her name came to Pim at a delay: I’futma, the healer.
“And you dear,” she said, turning to Pim. “Shall use no more aether today. That was more than enough.”
“But–”
“No buts. You have done what you can, the rest is up to powers beyond our reach. You should be well aware that the most crucial part of using aether is knowing your own limits.”
“They can be exceeded when needed, like here, I’yon will need close monitoring for the next few hours, I can –”
“Tell me, what of the others who were injured in the attack, this one or the previous, or any future ones, if you incapacitate yourself for the sake of one person? Exactly dear, you are not the one to decide everyone’s fates. We do our best for all who come to us, even if it means we cannot save them all.” I’futma spoke the words with kindness, yet there was unyielding resolve behind her dark eyes. Pim looked at her with all the defiance he could muster.
“What about if pushing myself a bit here would ensure that I’yon has the full use of his leg in the future? No one else is critically injured as far as I know, and I’m young and fit, I’ll regain the aether fast. A small inconvenience on my part to ensure he won’t be crippled for the rest of his life sounds fair to me.”
“Save me from the arrogance of youth,” I’futma said with an exasperated smile. “I have told you we have casualties from a recent attack with blood poisoning, they need magical healing for a chance to survive. Are you choosing to sacrifice them?”
“No, I can help them all.”
“You cannot. You can see to them all, give each a little bit, and leave the rest up to fate.”
“What if it’s not enough and they all die?”
“Then it was how it was supposed to be.”
“I don’t agree, I could make sure they all survive.”
“Dear, you cannot even stand up at the moment.”
Pim wanted to argue, but I’futma was right. His head was spinning and despite the ether potion, he felt too weak to move. But he was convinced that if there was a great need, he could push past the exhaustion and keep healing. He had done so in the past.
“How old are you dear?” I’futma suddenly asked.
“Uhh, I don’t know, about twenty or so.”
“My, you are young. Considering that, I should sense more vitality in you. I assume this is a lesson you have ignored again and again. Now listen to wisdom that comes with experience: you cannot keep overexerting yourself. You are still young enough to recover, yes, but soon the toll you are forcing on your body will catch up with you. Every time you push yourself past your limit, you are burning your years and your ability. They will eventually run out.”
Pim glanced at the old woman. She looked earnest and a little bit sad.
“You don’t know that,” he said.
“Do I not?” she said, shaking her head. “I used to be like you. Passionate, determined to save everyone, doing what I wanted regardless of the cost. My prowess with aether manipulation was unmatched… and now it is fully gone. Because I did not respect my limits. Because I thought I could do everything. Because I ignored what everyone told me. And it has cost several lives. I could have saved so many more of my family and tribe if I still had my powers, if only I had been prudent enough to use them more sparingly.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realise,” Pim said, looking down. The sand was starting to grow cold as the night wore on. Next to them, two people were gently transferring I’yon onto a stretcher they had hastily constructed. He gave no reaction to being moved.
“Promise me you will think about my words. Truly take them to heart and allow yourself to believe them. Have the courage to follow them, to find your limits and to stop before you go too far. You would make an old woman very happy then,” I’futma said with a kind smile, as if she sensed she had penetrated deep.
Pim nodded. “I promise.”
“Good. Now lean on me and we will find something to eat. We will check the situation in the morning, and do what we can. The rest is not up to us.”