Chapter Text
“You are late.”
Oh great. It was dumb of Kammy to expect the little lordling to behave any less pompously than he usually does. After helping with an investigation of crystal robberies potentially tied to the Amal’jaa; and even before that, saving the entirety of Eorzea from a Garlean invasion led by Gaius Van Baelsar and aided by the Ascians, she had thought there would be time for a moment’s respite. No rest for the righteous, she supposes.
With a raised eyebrow, Kammy listened attentively to his words; a vessel harboring a band of Domans had arrived at the bay moments before, seeking an audience with the sultana.
Refugees from Garlean’s bloodthirsty invasion. A reminder that, while the day had been won in Eorzea, Garlemald’s everlasting war was still far from over.
“Needless to say, I should be very interested to hear their tale and, more importantly, what they know of the current state of affairs in the Empire. Such information could prove most useful," Alphinaud explained, and Kammy let out a short, sarcastic laugh in response.
“Ever the opportunistic, eh?”
“We would be fools not to pursue this opportunity; do you not think?” The elezen boy answers back and turns around. “Come, Kammy, let’s make for Ul’dah. Unless I am mistaken – and I rarely am –” As the words kept flowing out of his mouth, Kammy shut her eyes and her long brown furry ears twitched, cringing as hard as possible from what Alphinaud just said.
“Did he really just say that? Gods, he makes it so hard not to slap him sometimes,” she thought to herself before regaining her composure and going along with him.
Arriving at the Royal Promenade, the pair were able to hear what sounded like a heated discussion. Alphinaud was right, and Kammy hated it. He shot a quick look at the viera woman with a shit-eating grin, and she rolled her eyes before heading in further.
As she got closer to the source of the sound, she was able to better distinguish the sources of the sound. One of the Sulstansworn, arguing with a group of people. Two hyurs and a… huh. Long, thin, scaly tail, two protruding… horns, Kammy guessed, out of their cowl… She couldn’t say that she had seen any of their kind before. Short stature, petite figure… a woman, perhaps? They looked like the leader of the group.
Kammy’s suspicions were confirmed as the mysterious figure raised her voice.
“Pray understand, good sir! We have not the leisure to lodge a formal petition. Time is of the essence,” she pleaded. “All I ask is that you summon your superior. Allow me to plead my case. Surely you can grant us that small kindness?”
The guard was having none of it. “Away with you, and darken these doors no longer. I will not ask again!” Kammy had heard enough and decided to intervene.
“Whoa hey, calm down man. Can’t you see they need help?”
“You-!?” The guard was taken off guard for a moment at the sudden appearance of the hero of Eorzea, but this was not enough to change his mind. “This does not concern you, Warrior of Light. Move along.”
“You know not what you do…” The refugee leader said in a bitter tone. Kammy tried to take a better look at the woman, just to be met with a fully masked face. How… mysterious of her, she thought, though she couldn’t say that she wasn’t intrigued. The horned woman turned around to leave, her pleas for help unheard. But she looked back at Kammy, who had offered her the smallest of kindness in this unfamiliar land.
“Thank you.”
Words didn’t come to her mind until a few moments later.
“…Oh! Um… yeah, you’re welcome.”
And they weren’t the most articulate.
Kammy suddenly felt awkward, her long ears lowering to the sides of her head in embarrassment. So readily had she been to help a stranger in need, she never thought of what to actually say to her after the fact. She’s not the best at starting conversation.
“I gather your pleas fell upon deaf ears.”
Which is why sometimes, and only sometimes, was she glad to have Alphinaud around to take the lead in these kinds of situations.
After a quick introduction, the group reconvened at the Quicksand, so the refugees could explain their situation. Yugiri was the name of their leader, and they had been seeking sanctuary in these lands, away from the oppression of the Garlean empire. An attempt at a rebellion was made… but it had been crushed, and Doma was razed to the ground to send a message to the other provinces and keep them in check.
Kammy’s fists clenched up under the table, her knuckles turning white. A whole city… gone, just like that. It shouldn’t surprise her but the more she learns about the Garlean’s conquest, the angrier she gets. When will it end? When will it be enough for them?
Yugiri continued sharing her tale, the rest of the refugees on an anchored ship in Vesper Bay, waiting until she sent word that it was safe to do so. Supplies are running low and they need help urgently.
"The Sultana and the Syndicate will not be so easily swayed," Alphinaud explained. "But I shall see that you are granted an opportunity to plead your case."
Yugiri was surprised. "This is within your power?"
"Well... far be it from me to boast,"
Hah! Suuure.
"but I do have the ear of certain influential individuals."
Yugiri was thankful. “I am in your debt.”
With that out of the way, Kammy thought it appropriate to bring up a topic she had been wondering about.
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but what’s with the choice of attire?”
“Men are wont to fear the unfamiliar. We know this from experience. We only seek to spare the people of Ul’dah unnecessary disquiet.”
“It makes you look… mysterious. But if you think that’s for the best, I won’t doubt your decision. Besides, I like the mystery.” Kammy responded in a slightly playful tone, which granted her a slightly perplexed look from Alphinaud.
She hoped what she said didn’t come off as weird, but she did mean it. She was intrigued by Yugiri’s masked appearance and what she really looked like. Was her explanation the whole story, or was there more to it?
But alas, as curious as she was, Kammy recognized it was not her place to intrude any further on the matter.
“Thank you for your understanding,” Yugiri said in return, seemingly not paying any mind to Kammy’s last comment. It was hard to tell her facial expressions given… well, her mask. So Kammy had to hope she hadn’t probed too much.
Shortly after, Alphinaud took his leave to make preparations with the Flame General to grant the refugees an audience, leaving the guests in Kammy’s capable hands.
“…”
And capable they were indeed.
Lucky for Kammy, the awkward silence didn’t linger for long. Yugiri stood up from her chair and addressed her.
“If I may, madam – as I said earlier— “And she didn’t have time to finish her sentence before Kammy interrupted her.
“You don’t have to be so formal with me, Yugiri.” She had wondered for a split second why the formality before realizing that she hadn’t told the horned woman her name. “Apologies for not properly introducing myself earlier.” Kammy stood up from her chair, and it was at this moment that she truly took notice of the size difference between the two of them. Yugiri was much shorter than her, her head barely surpassing Kammy’s chest. Being one of the taller races out there, having people be shorter than her wasn’t a rare occasion, but there was something about that combined with Yugiri’s concealed image that stood out to Kammy.
“Tiny…” was the only thing that resonated in her mind as she looked down upon her and stretched her hand out.
“Kammy Wiloh. A friend, if you’d have me.” Even this sort of introduction was unusual for her; she wasn’t the biggest fan of fancy formalities. But she figured she had to behave with a modicum of it for first impressions, at the very least.
Yugiri stretched her hand in return, and with a gentle grip, shook Kammy’s. “I would like that.” Despite the mask, Kammy could tell she said that with a smile. Probably.
She returned the smile and released her grip. “So, what can I do for you?”
Yugiri faced away, seemingly recollecting her thoughts before speaking. “Our supplies are all but spent. Though it shames me to beg for more when you have already offered so much, desperation compels me…”
“There’s no need to feel ashamed, Yugiri.” Kammy interrupted her, not being able to stand hearing her debase herself like that. “You and your people have gone through unimaginable pain. You need all the help you can get, and I intend to do anything I can for you.”
Yugiri seemed taken aback at Kammy’s ever-growing generosity and unbending determination. After a few seconds, she spoke.
“Thank you, Kammy. Anything you can provide would be welcome. Any provisions at all.”
Kammy smiled. “I’ll be right back.” She turned around to leave. Her first thought was to go to Momodi, thinking she may be the best person to speak with regarding these matters.
Back at being an errand girl. But for once in a long while, she was happy to be one, if it meant helping people in need. Helping Yugiri… and the refugees. Of course.
A few errands later Kammy had secured plenty of supplies for the refugees. Momodi had informed her that a wealthy merchant had canceled a previously reserved banquet, and she just had a surplus of food with no one to eat it all. How convenient, Kammy thought, but she wasn’t going to complain. After a few letter deliveries (and a few nasty glances in response to the recipient’s opinions on the matter), Kammy returned to the Quicksand to inform Yugiri of the arrangement, who was stunned at the hospitality given to her.
“I… I dared not hope for such magnanimity, much less expect it! Mistress Momodi is generous indeed... I shall be sure to thank her most humbly. And you too, Kammy. You have my deepest gratitude.”
Kammy waved nonchalantly with a big smile. “It’s nothing, really. I’m just glad to be of help.” Hearing Yugiri so grateful for the help and hopeful for the survival of her people… It was the first time that Kammy heard her talking without even the slightest hint of sorrow. It made her feel nice inside. Yugiri had a lovely voice, she came to realize.
Not long after, Alphinaud arrived with news that the refugees had been granted an audience with the Sultana and the Syndicate both to plead their case. Yugiri thanked the young diplomat, and the group walked back to the Royal Promenade, where Raubahn was waiting for them. Kammy’s presence as the Warrior of Light was necessary at this meeting, to “remind the Syndicate of the true meaning of philanthropy”, as Alphinaud put it. Even if there had been no need for her to be there, she would’ve attended. Kammy had to know how this would end up for Yugiri and her people.
And before everything started, Kammy addressed her one last time.
“Yugiri?” Kammy called out, and she turned around.
She gave a reassuring smile. “You’ve got this.”
Yugiri confidently nodded in response, and they walked inside, together.