Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ryne’s footsteps echo in the crystal halls of the tower with her anxious pacing in front of the door to the Umbilicus. Leaning against the wall next to the doorframe with her arms crossed, Gaia looks to the floor and shakes her head slowly. “We knew this conversation was coming eventually, my Light…” she mumbles.

“Yes, I am aware…” Ryne responds,  her nervous energy sending waves through her voice. “Maybe she’ll be thrilled for us! It is rather exciting, yes? Surely she’ll understand and grant us her blessing!”

Gaia takes a heavy breath in and out, tapping her fingers on her elbow. “I’ll bet she will, only after we poke and prod and in all likelihood rip open the deepest, most permanent scars on her heart and leave her bleeding on the floor of her study.”

“You do have a point, Darling,” Ryne admits, throwing her hands in front of her before letting them fall to her sides. She halts her distressed marching and stares at Gaia for a moment, before suggesting, “What if we didn’t tell her? We can just leave without putting her through the turmoil!”

“That’s complete nonsense and you know it,” Gaia scoffs, pushing herself off the wall and approaching Ryne, who scrunches herself smaller after the blunt retort. “Listen, there’s nothing left to do but tell her. There are no other preparations to take care of, no further angles to investigate, no other tomes to research and review – this is the final remaining step in the process.” Ryne nods but grabs her arm and looks away. Gaia takes an additional step closer to her partner, her heels sending a loud echo that rattles Ryne a bit, and in that moment Gaia takes her hand and touches her cheek to force her to gently make eye contact again. “I’ve got your back, Ryne, just as you have mine. This conversation will hurt, but Lyna loves us, will always love us, and we love her. Right?”

“Yes, of course,” Ryne agrees, a small nervous chortle escaping her. “I’ll always stand beside you, Gaia. It’s just…” She places her free hand on Gaia’s against her cheek. “Lyna’s approval means the world to me. I know it’ll be hard to hear at first, but I truly hope she’s able to understand.”

“Only one way to find out,” says Gaia as she nods towards the door. “Enough stalling. Let’s tear the bandage off already.”

Ryne takes a determined step to the entrance and grips the handles before hesitating once more. Finally, she finds the strength to turn the brass lever and swing open the doors, and steps into the Umbilicus with Gaia right behind her. She sees the Captain reading to herself, a vase of blue flowers next to her gauntlets on a small table, visible bags under her pink eyes. “P-Pardon our intrusion, Captain…” Ryne opens with a bow.

“It is hardly an intrusion for you two to stop by, Ryne,” Lyna begins, leaning back in a chair and closing the book embroidered by a blue dragon with a long tail spiraled on the cover she was reading from moments ago. “Pray tell, what scheme have you been concocting lately? It must be something fairly grand, considering King Titania and Beq Lugg offered their aid. And given that you felt it necessary to call me ‘Captain’ in your greeting, can I infer you need a bit more from me than an open ear?”

“Well, you see…” Ryne nervously wrings her hands, looking down at the floor.

Gaia places a hand on her back and steps forward. “Events at the Empty have been immensely calm, and on top of that, botanists and alchemists from all over have been eagerly joining in to help the flora and fauna return to what it once was. While it’s been rewarding to help in those efforts – both for the good of the land, and for the privilege of sharing meals consisting of the literal fruits of our labor – we have considered what our own next chapter might look like. We believe that now, while in this state of calm, we might try our hand at our own adventure. And, we admit, we do sort of miss the thrill of combat lately; Ryne has taken quite nicely to that blade Thancred left for her, so we might as well find some use for it.”

Lyna smiles nostalgically. “I see. And what sort of adventure might that be? Ryne, you have seen practically all Norvrandt has to offer until the vast lands of the Empty are more restored, but do you intend to explore more of it for Gaia’s discovery?”

“The Source,” Ryne blurts out, her left hand gripping her right tightly. “We want to go to the Source together.”

A silence overwhelms the room, as Gaia looks away awkwardly. “Damn. Truly committed to tearing the bandage off with that one, I suppose,” she observes.

Lyna looks down at the book resting in her lap, tracing the outline of the azure beast with her fingertip. Her face is stoic, and her tone low and failing to disguise her pain. “Why do you wish to go there, of all places? Is it closure you seek? Because it won’t be found there, my dear girls.”

“No, it’s not that…” Ryne mumbles, looking to Gaia for reassurance. She, in turn, gestures for her to keep going. “After she left to take on the most recent threat, we knew she would give it her all to protect her world and all of its reflections, and we were further certain of it when she came here to gather intel from the Tower. Gaia and I were content to stay here and relish in the peace her success created – delighted even to do so. But now, without the assurance that the Source is protected, we feel we can no longer sit idly by, and it is our time to step back into the action.”

“The Scions are still there, you know,” Lyna answers, gripping the leather-bound book. “If something were the matter, I’m certain they would contact us through King Titania again.”

“I’m not so confident,” Gaia chimes in. “As it stands, the Scions believe we’re stuck with the impenetrable rift between us. Not to mention, Thancred probably wants to keep Ryne out of harm’s way–”

“Yet here you are, barreling yourselves towards it!” Lyna suddenly shouts, hitting her fist against the arm of the chair. Gaia takes a step in front of Ryne, who looks noticeably shaken by the raised tone. “Can you even begin to imagine how he would feel should something happen to you? The absolute void that would weigh in his heart should the worst come to fruition? And yet, despite that, you’re trying to follow in the footsteps of someone who selfishly did just that! Do you know how I would feel, for that matter?! How devastated I would be if something went wrong and I did nothing to prevent it?! What sort of example have I been setting that you believe this course of action to be acceptable by any stretch of the imagination?!”

Ryne steps forward and stares Lyna in the eye with determination. “Did Satril ever tell you what she said to me in private that night before the festival?” Lyna’s expression falls sharply, and tears form in the corners of her eyes. “We talked for nearly two hours about so many facets of my life. She asked me if the way Gaia treated me made me feel loved, and it’s because of that reflection that I know how much I love Gaia, and I can confidently say she loves me in return.” Gaia blushes next to her, but smiles in agreement. “She reminded me that I am still but a child, in that my days need not be filled with worry and anxiety over the state of the realm, but instead excitement and discovery. On top of that, she reminded me that I am to live my life as I desired, and to never feel the weight the name ‘Minfilia’ bears. Because of Satril, I have been able to find myself and who I truly am. And what I want is to begin my own undertaking in the Source. To live a life even half as grand as she. Yes, I still feel a responsibility and a fear for the safety of their world, but more than that, I feel my own drive to experience all Eorzea has for myself, and to spend my days how I see fit.”

Lyna’s lip quivers as she looks to Gaia. “Do you feel similarly, my child?”

Gaia smiles awkwardly and nods with a slight shrug. “For all the reasons she said, and for the additional reason of my own boredom. I would love to go on another journey with her, doubly so if I need not study another tome on the difference between popoto seeds.”

Tears silently stream down Lyna’s cheeks as she looks at the book again. The ever present shadow of grief towering over her embraces her once again. “Honestly, you two are as if her spirit has been split in twain and shared evenly amongst you…”

Ryne steps forward and kneels in front of Lyna, taking her hand. “We promise, we do not wish to cause undue stress, Captain Lyna. That’s why we’ve been working with Titania and Beq Lugg on our own, and we believe that we’ve found a way for us to step through the portal in the Ocular the same as she once did. All we wanted was your blessing for us to take that step.”

"Still you insist on addressing me with my title… You know damn well how unnecessary it is for you to concern yourself with such formalities…" With a shake of her head, Lyna looks up and smiles at the hopeful young Oracle. “This look in your eyes, and this hunger for adventure and challenge… I don’t know how you managed it, but you make me miss her more…And now, I suppose I’m going to be missing the two of you as well…” Ryne suddenly rises up to hug the Captain, who is on the brink of fully sobbing. Gaia comes over and joins in the embrace, turning her head away so no one will see the water gathering in her own eyes. “I beg of you, be safe. It's hard enough letting you go off entirely on your own. My heart could not withstand another loss. Between the Exarch returning to the Source, and what happened to my love, I can't…”

Ryne nods and sniffles loudly, holding the Viis tighter. “We’ll keep each other safe. We’ll show you just how much your training and our sparing has been paying off. Right, Gaia?”

“Well of course,” she confirms, using her fingertips to clear the corner of her eyes without messing up her makeup. “There’s hardly a soul who could hope to stand against the combined might of the Oracles of Light and Darkness.”

Lyna scoffs, looking up at the ceiling. “I can practically hear her voice telling me off for questioning you two. ‘Of course they can go! They’ve been practically atrophying here, literally watching grass grow! Hells, I was around their age when I first left home, and they’ve seen far worse than I did at the time already!’” The three girls laugh, each picturing their passed family member reciting the very words Lyna imagined. “When you leave, all of the Crystarium will be there to send you off. This is not up for negotiation. Understood?” The girls nod, albeit slightly reluctantly from Gaia. “And finally, I have a favor to ask…” Lyna reaches behind her and pulls a small blue flower from the vase standing on the table next to her chair. “These were her favorite flowers. I’d always gather a few for her when I was stationed out of the city walls. Do you think you could… leave some with her for me?” Her voice struggles to finish the request through her tears and the grip her sorrow has on her words.

“That was going to be one of our first stops,” Ryne responds, gently taking the flower from her lightly trembling fingers. “We would be honored to do so, Cap–” She catches herself and beams to the widowed protector. “Thank you for everything, Lyna. You and Satril taught us so much, raised us to be who we are now. No matter what comes of this excursion, please let me tell you how much we love and adore you with all we have.”

Gaia squeezes Lyna’s shoulders tighter, her face buried in Lyna’s thick hair. “She speaks for both of us. I am who I am after all that happened in the Empty because of how you two and Ryne took care of me. I had nothing. Yet now, I find myself with the most incredible partner in the realm, re-learned how to engage with the world around me from the guidance of two remarkable women, who all showed me strength and grace and compassion I never believed possible. I don’t think it’s possible for me to thank you enough…”

Lyna is stunned into silence, continuing to fail every attempt to hold her composure as she rubs Gaia’s back. She eventually finds the words and the air to respond, “I don’t even know what to say… Why such a jarringly upfront admission of love, Gaia?”

“I can’t…” Gaia shakes her head and mumbles. All her strength is focused into her attempt to not give way to her lingering pain. “I can’t leave anything left unsaid, that’s all. We will return, everything will be fine, but… Whatever, you understand…”

“Yes, I do, fret not,” confirms Lyna, kissing Gaia’s forearm wrapped around her collarbone. She touches Ryne’s hand, still holding the pale blue flower in front of her. “You have my blessing, girls. Spare no detail when you return, I demand a full report of this mission of yours!”

Chapter Text

The next day, after a lively and tearful send off from the people in the Crystarium, Ryne with Thancred’s old gunblade strapped to her back and Gaia with her hammer take each other's hands and step through the portal they have watched the Warrior use time and time again. To their relief and amazement, they enter without protest from the tower, and find themselves drifting in the aetherial rift, surrounded by not only their own memories, but also those of their lost companion. Ryne scans the various crystalized moments and tries to take in as many faces as she can until the couple is spat out onto the dirt floor of the dig sight in front of the Crystal Tower. “Oh Hells…” Gaia remarks, standing up and dusting herself off before extending her hand to Ryne. “That’s a fine greeting from the Source of our world.”

Ryne accepts her hand and adjusts her hair, brushing out dirt and rocks tangled within her dense red braid. “I can’t imagine Satril had to deal with that every time she traveled between realms–” She stops herself when she realizes the numerous archaeologists working nearby, all stunned and still, staring at them. “Oh, um… Sorry to drop in unannounced! None of you would happen to know where we could find the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, would you?”

After a long silence with slow, uncertain glances exchanged between the workers, one of them responds, “The S-Scions…? They disbanded recently, b-but I can point you towards someone who m-might know… If you could answer a question, that is.”

Ryne smiles and bows respectfully. “Of course! What might that be?”

“Who the bloody hell are you and where did you come from?!” the worker asks, falling back on their rear end from their crouched position.

Gaia rolls her eyes and steps forward. “Look, it's a long story, so to keep it brief, we're trusted colleagues of the Scions and the late Warrior of Darkness. Yet you say they're disbanded?”

“Look, we're nothing more than researchers, trying to learn about the Crystal Tower. Follow the road out that way and you'll find Revenant’s Toll, and you can ask about the Scions at the local tavern. Hells, we’ve never even heard of no ‘Warrior of Darkness,’ for that matter! Pray, leave us be!”

Ryne nods and bows again. “Thank you, sir. Sorry to be a bother!”

“Come now, no need for that, my Light,” Gaia scoffs, lightly pushing Ryne towards the direction the man pointed. “Let's see about finding our allies.” 

The Oracles trek across the aether-soaked and damaged road across Mor Dhona to find their way to The Seventh Heaven, the tavern for the bustling checkpoint. Inside, the tables are full of tradespeople and adventurers the world over, sharing tales and bartering with one another, and a minstrel in a mask and red garments sits in the corner, strumming a harp to himself. The girls approach the counter, Ryne taking a stool while Gaia stands behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Pardon me?” Ryne calls the bartender over, smiling excitedly. “Might you know where we could find the Scions of the Seventh Dawn? We're companions of theirs from a different land, and we were looking for a rendezvous if possible.”

The barkeep looks over the two girls and gives a hardy laugh. “You certainly look the part! But sorry to say, the Scions decided to disband. They cleaned up the right mess of things with the so called ‘Final Days’ a summer prior and decided to hang their hats on it. Even so, I wouldn't know where to find them.”

“Are you certain?” Gaia inquires. “We were directed here to find them, so it strikes me as odd that you have no information.”

“Sorry to disappoint, lass,” he responds with a shrug. “Wish I could tell you more, but I have nothing to s–”

Suddenly, an orange-haired Miqo'te with an azure crystal staff bursts through the entrance and breathlessly runs through the door in the back of the tavern. Ryne's eyes light up and she turns to Gaia. “That man looked just like the Exarch! If that's him, he could surely help us find the others!”

“Wait!” the bartender calls out as the pair moves towards the door the Miqo'te sprinted through, lowering his voice to a near whisper after. “Alright, cat's literally out of the sack, you'll find what you need there. These things are meant to be secret, but it's clear you know some folks. Please, just help maintain the cover, if you don't mind.”

Ryne nods, a confused expression on her face. “I'm not sure we understand, but we're just looking to contact our friends and be on our way. We won't be telling anyone further about it.”

The bartender sighs and gestures for them to enter the door. Before they could enter, however, they are beckoned over by the minstrel in the corner. Ryne cautiously approaches until Gaia grabs her shoulder and holds her still. “Aught we can do for you, sir?”

The minstrel chuckles, still strumming his instrument  all the while. “You have quite the familiar glow about you, ladies. One cannot help but think about a certain Warrior when seeing the manner in which you hold yourselves. Young spirits beginning a new journey, I take it?”

“Were you a friend of the Warrior of Darkness?” Ryne asks excitedly, pulling Gaia closer to her side by her waist and causing her to stumble forward.

“Her and I were quite familiar with each other, yes. She became my primary source of inspiration through her trials and encounters – always so grand and exciting, and yet we would discuss how each one could have been more explosive with the aid of hindsight. Even before that, our paths crossed frequently when she was closer to your age, and we shared a profession of performing.”

Ryne and Gaia share a glance of discovery. Gaia responds, “Say, we would love to chat more about this – genuinely, it is why we are here – but perhaps we can do so at a later hour? We have somewhere to be urgently. Where could we find you later when we have a moment?”

The minstrel laughs again and gestures to the tavern around them. “In all likelihood, right here! When she was around, I enjoyed following her around on her travels, but I always liked it here specifically: right in the center of things in Eorzea. If you don’t see me here, stick around, for I will return sooner rather than later.” The minstrel stands up and walks for the door. “I’ll be seeing you soon, ladies. I sense you will provide a spark for a new song next we meet. May your new tale be as fulfilling and vibrant as our mutual colleague’s!”

Ryne and Gaia wave farewell as he struts into the open streets of Revenant’s Toll, the wind leading him to his next inspiration. Ryne pivots and nods towards the door, walking arm in arm with her partner through the restricted passage. When they do, they see lines of mannequins dressed in fashionable garments and sturdy armor alike, as well as several weapons on racks hung on the walls of the large open room. They hear a familiar man’s voice frantically stammering, and see the Miqo'te talking to a pink-haired Lalafell. “Tataru, I wouldn't dare joke about this! I felt something teleport at the Tower, and it felt just like when our friend used to travel to the First! I can't explain it but it has the potential to be catastrophic!”

“Um, G’raha…” the small woman interrupts, pointing to the two girls approaching from the stairs behind him. “Do you happen to know them?”

As he turns, his eyes grow wide and his ears perk up, stumbling backwards in surprise. “Is that you, Ryne?! And you! You must be Gaia! We only briefly met before the Scions departed from the First, but what are you… no, how are you here?!”

“So that really is you, Exarch?” Ryne asks excitedly, running towards him and embracing him. “You look so young! And you're not all crystalized! I'm so glad you're well!”

“You're asking how we're here…?” Gaia asks, walking in behind her bright counterpart. “Did King Titania or Feo Ul or however you know them not fill you in? They told us they wanted to surprise the people of the Source but I had hoped they would've told you. ”

G’raha returns Ryne’s hug and laughs. “They didn't tell me so much as a whisper. But I feel it's safe to assume the activity I detected in the Crystal Tower was you two?”

Ryne nods and takes a step back. “Our apologies for alarming you. But we'll be here for a while!”

G'raha turns to the Lalafell he was speaking to moments ago, and gestures towards the young girls. “Tataru, allow me to introduce you. This is Ryne, the Oracle of Light, and Gaia, the Oracle of Darkness, hailing from the First!”

Tataru gasps and quickly takes one of Ryne's hands. “You're that Ryne? And you!” She runs over and takes one of Gaia’s hands in the same manner. “You're that Gaia! I've heard so much about you! Thancred and Satri–” she stops herself and looks dishearteningly at the floor. “Pardon me. It's an honor to meet you.”

Ryne bows with a smile. “While we would love to hang about, we do have an objective of sorts in mind. After we're done, we would love to be a part of the Scions and their mission to protect the Source, and share some stories our common ally may have left out.”

“Well, Dearie, the Scions are technically disbanded,” Tataru explains. “We decided it for the best, as Eorzea has entered an era of peace, and given the... particular loss, we felt the need to step away and breathe for the time being. However, I can give you this.” She reaches into her pocket and hands Ryne a miniature white orb. “This is a linkpearl. It rests inside your ear and can be used to communicate with people across great distances. We all have one on hand, in case an urgent matter arises. Everyone has broken off to pursue independent projects, but we're all a quick call away!”

“I see…” Ryne inspects the pearl for a second and then slides it into her ear. “If you don't mind, Exarch, don't tell everyone we're here yet. As eager as I am to reunite with Thancred, Urianger, and everyone else, we would like to handle our own business first, then have a grand reception when we're ready.”

G'raha looks surprised, but nods. “Here in the Source, you may call me G’raha Tia, as I am the Exarch no longer. But what is this business you speak of? It seems rather urgent if you don't have time to catch up after so long.”

“It's not necessarily time-sensitive, but it's…important to us,” Ryne tries to explain, looking to Gaia to bring in her usual direct tone to elaborate. The Dark Oracle smiles and steps forward.

“We want to learn more about Satril's life. She promised us she would tell us more when we were older, but now that she's gone, we're taking the matter into our own hands. We figure the process of visiting a few locations significant to her in order to learn and document the less globally grand moments of her life, particularly before she became the Warrior of Light, can be our first independent adventure.”

The two former Scions look stunned. Eventually, G'raha responds, “That certainly is a large undertaking. Our friend was one who loved to tell a tale, but the painful moments she often kept to herself, and her life before becoming an adventurer was not easy. Her exploits as the Warrior of Light are mostly recorded, yet there are certainly some moments she withheld from the public. I'm also surprised Lyna wasn't able to fill in those blank spaces for you two.”

“We figured she knew everything,” Ryne assures, “but we didn't want to have her spill Satril's secrets. It felt like a breach of their love for us to ask her. The way we saw it, if we're going to learn about her, Satril would want us to earn it; to show her we've grown enough in her eyes to hear it.”

G'raha smiles and places a hand on both of their shoulders. “The best gift she gave me was a grand journey together. I'm sure she would be delighted that she could give the same to you as well.” Next to them, Tataru quietly sniffs and bats away tears. Ryne kneels down and offers her hand, which she takes and squeezes lightly with a smile. “I suppose a fair word of warning,” he continues, “much of the Source is still actively grieving and hurting, particularly the Scions. Despite being well-occupied with my own duties to restoring the Students of Baldesion, I'd be lying if I claimed to be moved on, this now being the second time I've been forced to continue in a world without her. Do be cautious when bringing her up. The name itself is enough to drive people to tears.”

“Lyna is very much the same,” remarks Gaia, pulling at her sleeve. “I haven't heard Satril's name from her mouth since we heard the news. She keeps a brave face for the Crystarium, as is her duty, but she's rarely seen walking around town like she used to when she’s not assigned a post. Honestly, it's been breaking our hearts all over again to see it…”

Ryne sighs and looks up at G'raha, gently rubbing her thumb on Tataru’s hand. “We understand, and we are sorry to pry. We'll be careful. We're not here to cause harm, of course. That being said, we do have a couple questions to get us started, if you don't mind.”

Tataru quickly wipes her eyes and nods. “Of course, Dear! Anything for you!”

Gaia pulls a notebook and quill from a small pack on her back, as Ryne looks to her and confirms she is ready before requesting information. “There's two things we'd like to know. First off, is there anywhere we can go to pay respects? A memorial or a grave or anything of the sort?”

G'raha chimes in quickly, seeing Tataru about to get hit with another wave of grief. “Yes, there's two such places! One, the Eorzean Alliance erected a statue of her here in Revenant's Toll, meant for the public to be able to gather and honor her. However, she is buried in a private place that only a select few are aware of. It might also prove difficult to travel to, it’s quite a ways away for any traditional means of transportation…”

“You can ask Cid for assistance!” Tataru suddenly offers. “To reach the location you'll need an airship. Cid is an expert on the subject, and personally sees to the needs of the Scions. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to provide his services for you!”

“ The Cid Garlond?!” Ryne asks in shock, to which G'raha proudly nods. “To think I'll be able to meet one of the men responsible for all that the First accomplished…”

Gaia smiles, savoring Ryne's excitement, until she continues, “The second thing we were looking for was places to start. Do you know of any locations that were significant to her, particularly before becoming the legendary Warrior of Darkness?”

“Here in the Source, it's the Warrior of Light,” G'raha corrects. “The people here have a bit of a negative association with Darkness, thanks to the Ascians and their misgivings. But as for her life before being an adventurer, I honestly do not have much to share, as our friend kept that part of her life close to her chest. Of course, in her performances she would share some eccentric moments, yet the day-to-day life and hardships of that period are known by few.”

“We plan to visit her hometown, um…” Ryne struggles to find the name of the village, while Gaia flips through her notebook.

“Quarrymill!” she cuts in.

“Yes, thank you, Love! We don't know where it is, but Quarrymill was going to be our starting point!”

“Yes, that and one other small village would be an excellent start,” adds Tataru. “She asked me to take most of her pay and send it to her father in Quarrymill, and to an inn located in Coldhearth, a small village located outside of Ala Mhigo. When I asked, she didn't want to share details, but told me it was for someone she owes a great debt to. I’m sure the village appreciates it, as it has been on hard times for a good while. In the end, she was only accepting roughly a quarter of her pay as a Scion, then making her own money through various means like performing and hunting.”

“You mean Satril was living as a songstress, a hunter, and the bloody Warrior of Light, all at once?” Gaia clarifies, writing diligently in her notebook.

“That's right!” Tataru proudly confirms. “She said the performing was to unwind, the hunting was to stay sharp, and then adventuring to protect what she loved. She felt uncomfortable taking so much pay for it, and opted for it to be sent to some of her folks who really needed it, that being her father at home and this mysterious comrade in Coldhearth. The gil was already budgeted out to her, so I was happy to adhere to her request. I can provide a map showing where the inn is located, as well as Quarrymill. I’ll leave it with Cid when you begin your journey.”

“Thank you, Tataru,” Ryne smiles, standing up and stepping back next to Gaia as she finishes writing her notes. “How would we get in contact with Cid when we’re ready?”

“His workshop is located next door. If you explain your situation, I'm certain he’ll drop anything and everything to help!” Tataru responds, crossing her arms and smirking confidently. 

“You’ll be able to meet his eclectic misfit crew he operates with as well,” adds G’raha with a cheery tone. “He amassed a couple of… interesting characters to join him in his mechanical endeavors, who I’m sure will be delighted to make your acquaintance.”

“Then we shall be on our way,” Gaia says as she stores her notebook and quill in her pack. “When we’re ready, Ryne will use that ‘linkpearl’ device to contact everyone. But for now, we have our own agenda to keep to.”

“Before you go…” Tataru gestures to the large blade on Ryne’s back. “May I see that weapon of yours, Dear?” Ryne removes the sword from her back and holds it out for Tataru to take, and she inspects it thoroughly. “Well I’ll be… This is Thancred’s gunblade! I really outdid myself by replicating it, I must say!” she admires with a smirk, handing it back to the Oracle.

Ryne giggles and returns the sword to her back. “I still have much to learn in properly utilizing it, but it has helped me feel close to him when the rift was between us.”

“As I said,'' Gaia cuts in, placing her hands on Ryne’s shoulders and gently guiding her to the door. “We shall be on our way, but thank you again for your guidance.”

Chapter Text

The couple exits through the bar and walk up the sloped brick road in front of them to find an enormous stone statue of the Warrior of Light in the center of the market, surrounded by large stacks of flowers and mementos. The statue shows Satril, dressed in her usual coat, plumed hat and thigh boots she wore as a Bard, holding a small harp with a bright smile. Ryne looks up at the memorial and sighs deeply, grabbing for Gaia’s arm. “Everything we hear, and everything we see about her… It just makes it more real…”

Gaia kisses the top of Ryne’s head. She thinks about all the nights spent basking in the glow Satril radiated when she performed, and how all of the Crystarium would come out to do the same, drinking and cheering and dancing well into the night. Every time, Lyna would smile so brightly and let her guard down, joining in the delighted chaos of the city. It was through watching her in these moments that Gaia properly learned to accept the positive and cheerful energy Ryne naturally carries, seeing someone so hardened and serious about safety and protection as Lyna have fun and savor the moments of joy between hardships. After an extended reflection, she turns her head curiously. “Say, Ryne… What do you think happened to her harp?”

“Oh Heavens, I hadn’t even thought about it!” Ryne gasps, looking up to Gaia. “We need to figure out where Cretia ended up! Satril would blow a gasket if something happened to her after she was gone!”

Gaia laughs quietly and nods her head towards the building said to house Garlond Ironworks. “I suppose we have a new objective to add to the list, my Light. Come now, let’s see if Cid can help us reach the Sea of Clouds. As wonderful as this display is, I imagine the Captain would prefer we leave our offerings with Satril herself.”

Back down the road towards the tavern, the girls turn towards a wooden doorway across the way, but are stopped by a red-haired Hyur woman. “Woah there, girls!” she declares, blocking off the entrance with her arm. “Lovely as you seem, I’ll need a good reason to let you into our fine workshop here!”

Gaia stomps forward to definitively give this woman a piece of her mind until Ryne holds her back by her arm and steps forward in her place. “Pardon us, Miss. What may we call you?”
“I’m Jessie, proud Deputy President of Garlond Ironworks!”

“Delightful. Well, Jessie, we received a recommendation from the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to come and consult your engineers for a personal matter of great import. Might we come inside to discuss further with Cid Garlond, if he has a moment to spare?”

“More Scion business huh?” the Deputy President sighs. “Not even Scion business, a personal matter on Scion recommendation… Can’t say this sounds like a particularly fruitful endeavor for us, if I may be direct in my assessment. Not that the Scions don’t or wouldn’t pay well, just that Cid always insists that Scion-related matters be off the record, free of charge, and no good for the company!”

Gaia groans and stomps her loud heel again, which visibly rattles the frugal engineer. “Can you stop being so impossible and let us in already? Tataru and G’raha Tia said we can come here to utilize your airship, and we presently have no other needs. So speak plainly, will you help us as we have been promised you could, or not?”

Ryne quietly holds Gaia’s arm tighter, turning her head away to try and hide her thoroughly amused, mildly embarrassed and quietly proud smirk. Jessie, after a moment of surprise, opens her mouth to respond, but is interrupted by the door opening slowly partway, and a small yellow bird poking his beak out, as if to nervously inspect the ruckus happening outside. Immediately upon first sighting of the creature, Ryne lights up and kneels in front of the open doorway, her hands covering her mouth in excitement. “Now who is this darling little fowl?” she asks, beckoning him to come out. He complies, and jumps on one foot with one wing in the air in a sort of wave, accompanied with a cheery wark. 

“Alpha, come back here, you spring chicken, you!” a gruff voice calls as it approaches, the bird turning and holding his cheery demeanor. “I swear, the first sign of any excitement in town and you always must be the first to know about it!” The owner of the voice opens the door all the way to reveal himself as a broad, white-haired man with a matching beard, dressed in similar clothing to that of Jessie, holding a large metal mallet in his hand. He looks over the duo and gives a welcoming smile. “Interesting lot you two are! What can we do you for?”

A miniature, quadruped robot similar in size to the bird appears and produces loud, whirring sound for a few moments, before saying, “ASSESSMENT - THESE TWO LIFE FORMS POSSESS TREMENDOUS COMBAT AND AETHERIC POTENTIAL. RECOMMENDED ACTION - INQUIRE AND/OR TEST FURTHER THEIR CAPABILITIES AND DISCOVER THE EXTENT OF THEIR STRENGTH.”

“No need for any of that, Omega, let’s just hear them out on what they might need from our services.” The man offers a small salute with his free hand. “Name’s Cid Garlond, engineer and founder of Garlond Ironworks. These are friends of ours, Alpha and Omega. Pleased to make your acquaintance!”

Yet again, Ryne jumps forward in overwhelming excitement and grabs Cid’s hand, her eyes shining bright as falling stars. “It is such a tremendous honor to meet you, Sir Garlond!” she exclaims, practically bouncing in front of him. 

Gaia steps in and gently yet firmly takes Ryne’s shoulders and pulls her back. “Perhaps tone it down just a bit, my Light,” she whispers to her partner. “Exciting as it is, we do have something rather important after all, yes?”

“Of course, my apologies…” Ryne clears her throat and bows slightly, trying to present herself in her more typical, reserved nature. “Pardon our intrusion, everyone. We would humbly request your aid in providing an airship for us. It is a personal matter, but one with the Scions’ seal of approval and recommendation of you specifically.”

“The Scions, you say?” Cid perks up, a new light flashing in his expression. “My, it’s been a little while… Yet there’s no world I reject a cause they deem vital enough for my involvement! I’d be honored to help you out, ladies!”

Jessie throws her hand up and walks into the workshop past Cid, muttering to herself, “Why even have me focus on the business operations if every proposal I have is irrelevant, huh? Why do I even bother…”

“C’mon, don’t be like that, Jessie! Look after the crew while I’m gone, nothing you can’t handle. And if Nero gets any other bright ideas on this Aetherial Recollector project, you tell him where he can stick that wrench of his!”

“What was that? I know I heard you discussing me, it had better be an admission of how correct I am in this case, and likely every case to come after!” a separate older male voice calls back.

“Enough out of you, I’ll see you when I’m back!” Cid loudly shuts the door behind him and walks towards the edge of town. “Come now, we’ll make introductions on the way, lasses!”

The girls look at each other, Ryne’s eyes bulging out of their sockets with excitement. Gaia smiles and shakes her head, then gestures for her to follow the monolithic historical figure ahead of them. She breaks into an eager jog to catch up to the broad, white-haired mechanic, and rapidly decelerates into an elegant floating walk while she fixes her braid and skirt. “A-Apologies, how rude of us to n-not introduce ourselves earlier…” she mumbles, folding her hands in front of her.

“Like I’ve ever been one for formalities! Think nothing of it, but I would still like to know what to call you,” he responds, giving a playful flick of his wrist in her direction.

“Of course, Sir Garlond-”

“Just Cid is fine, really!”

Gaia catches up and softly bumps her shoulder against Ryne’s, and nods towards the man standing next to her in encouragement. “Right, well, Cid. My name is Ryne, and this is Gaia, my partner. We come from–”

“The First, right?” he cuts off. The Oracles look surprised, sparking a quick chuckle from Cid. “Satril told every soul on the star about you two, and her dear Captain Lyna. She was endlessly proud of you two, and you deserve to hear it. You two were the closest she got to having a little ‘kiht’ of her own,  I believe they’re called in her culture.”

Gaia slips her hand into Ryne’s palm and holds it firmly. “You two were close, I take it?” she says in a low, pained voice that triggers Ryne’s grip to tighten on her hand.

“We went through a few trials together, that’s for sure. Took on the Garlean Empire when they were on the offensive a multitude of times, faced down a handful of mythical beasts, not to mention she stood by me when I had to confront my past. She was the textbook definition of a friend and a hero, I can tell you that.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet.” Gaia spits out.

“That is why we’re here, seeking your aid.” Ryne quickly chimes in to defuse her partner’s emotions. “We wanted to visit her um… Her grave,” she struggles to finish her sentence with the weight of the word on her tongue.

Cid taps the back of his hand against Ryne’s shoulder reassuringly as they near a cliffside with a small airship anchored to the edge of it. “It would be my honor to take you two there. You’ll see most of Eorzea on the way as well. I don’t know if you’ve ever partaken in airship travel, but the winds will be intense, and things could get chilly. Huddle in tight with each other, understood?”

Ryne pulls Gaia in sharply and plops her head on her shoulder, blinking like a cartoon animal to her brooding expression. “That shouldn’t be a problem for us, Cid.” Gaia turns her head and blushes, doing her best to maintain her tough and currently grumpy demeanor.

“Ha! Didn’t think so.” Cid jumps aboard the ship and offers his hand over the side. “Climb on board, Ryne and Gaia. We’ll be there in no time, Garlond Ironworks guarantee!”

Ryne cheerfully accepts his reach, then turns to assist Gaia onboard as well. The two take a seat a few yalms behind the wheel Cid stands at, Ryne under Gaia’s arm and the two of them as physically close as they can be. As the pilot lifts off from the cliff, Ryne yelps sharply and holds Gaia tighter, then begins to ease up as the ship steadily accelerates through the sky. She slowly opens her eyes and sees the crystalized body of an enormous beast wrapped around a mountaintop as they pass by, her entire face lighting up in astonishment. “My word, do you see that Gaia? That creature is larger than Bismarck!”

Gaia doesn’t respond until Ryne nudges her to get her attention. “Oh, well, it is rather large, yes…” 

Ryne is left conflicted, her mind unable to decide if she wants to ask how she’s feeling or let it sit for now. The decision is made for her when the gruff voice of Cid cuts in. “Bismarck? How do you two know about the white whale primal?”

“Bismarck is an ancient Fae in the First!” Ryne happily responds. “They helped us in our fight against Emet-Selch by getting us to his underwater city. I suppose Satril left a couple of the details out in her recounting of that trial.”

“There was plenty to fill me in on, so that comes as no surprise!” Cid laughs back. “Here in the Source, we had to fight that behemoth. Had to use fake islands and harpoons – any number of tricks to bring him down! Took a long while, but we eventually took care of him nonetheless.”

For the rest of the trip, Ryne excitedly takes in the sites of Eorzea, yet receives no real reaction from Gaia aside from basic acknowledgements. Cid, throwing in a few anecdotes and details here and there, finally pulls up to a large floating series of connected boulders, letting the airship come to a calm rest as it approaches a stone dock. “This would be the place, friends. Here, in the Sea of Clouds, Satril and a few other prominent bards played a song upon the wind, creating a musical moment she never forgot. Watch your step out there, the winds could get rather intense.

“So this is the Sea of Clouds…” admires Ryne as she approaches the stairs, admiring the wide view of the small floating islands. “Truly remarkable. As wonderful a wordsmith she was, seeing it with my own eyes is a sight to behold.” Gaia quietly shuffles behind her, nodding in agreement but not verbalizing further. Ryne takes her hand and gestures for them to continue.

“Take all the time you need, I’ll be here when you’re ready,” Cid says in a much more serious timbre. “I understand if you need a while. Hydaelyn knows I have the few times I’ve been here myself.”

As the two step off of the airship, they are both immediately thrown off balance by an intense gust of wind. Ryne draws her gunblade and thrusts it into the ground to reorient herself, and Gaia in turn catches herself on Ryne’s shoulder. The girls help each other find their footing, and continue forward up the sharp grassy incline before them. When they reach the top, they see a large headstone, and a small patch of dirt that looks to be fairly recently dug up and filled in. Resting against the stone is a small harp, covered in scratches and dents built up by over a decade of spirited wear and tear. Upon seeing this, Ryne runs forward and falls to her knees, unable to contain her emotions any further and bursting into tears. Gaia speeds up her pace and crouches down next to her, stroking her hair and solemnly reading the inscription to herself. It reads: “Satril Carrios – Savior of Eorzea and Lands Beyond – ‘It’s in Mother’s Care’ – 1549-1581”

“You’re correct Ryne…” Gaia eventually says, her voice shaking. “It does seem to feel more and more real… It’s not fair…” Ryne turns sharply and wraps her arms tight around Gaia’s neck and continues to cry. Meanwhile, Gaia continues to stare at the gravestone, her hands curled into firm fists as her breathing destabilizes. “Lyna was right. What are we even doing here, Ryne? Why are we doing this to ourselves?!” The tears she had been holding back suddenly make their way down her face as she hits the ground in front of her. “She died chasing some damned battle high after the world was saved, throwing away the life she promised she would return to! At least Lyna got to say some manner of goodbye, meanwhile she abandoned us to our own damn devices! Damn her to hell!” Ryne remains silent, holding her hurting lover closer and burying herself as much as she can in her shoulder-length hair. Eventually, Gaia turns and throws her arms around Ryne’s torso, letting herself finally release the pain she has been holding since hearing what became of her caretaker. Her desperate grip on the fabric of Ryne’s white shirt and studded jacket turns her knuckles pale.

They hold their embrace, accompanied by the winds of the land around them and their own gasps for breath between the tears. “Pray, recall what you said to me when you saved me from Shiva’s control,” Ryne eventually responds. “You told me, in no certain terms, ‘you want to see what tomorrow will bring.’” Gaia nods, slowly regaining her breath. “I do too, Gaia. And Satril wants us to as well. Remember, that’s why we’re here. We know what tomorrow looks like in the First, and we lived those same tomorrows over and over again. While I’m not one to complain about peace, that’s not the life I seek right now. Right now, I want challenge and excitement, and I know you crave it as well.” Gaia leans back slightly to meet Ryne’s eyes, both their gazes glassy and red from tears, but Ryne manages a comforting smile. “I miss her deeply, my Love. So much it makes me ill to think about. I crave her guidance as we start this next chapter, her companionship as we explore these new lands, her voice as she dramatically recounts her trials, her warmth when she holds me close and tells me it will all work in the end – yet it is just as Lyna said. She would be so excited for us to partake in this journey, and to honor that, we must take the next step.”

Gaia scoffs and looks down at the ground, relaxing her grip on Ryne’s shirt. “You’re right. I know you are. But damn it all, it just hurts, Ryne. It’s been hurting, and all this anger and sorrow is just bursting out of me relentlessly…”

Ryne kisses her partner’s forehead, then rests her own against it softly. “I know, Love. I’ve been feeling the same every day. But I have been so blessed to have you here, taking these bold steps alongside me.” As the two take considerable time holding this pose and catching their breath, Ryne turns her attention to the harp resting on the grave. “Gaia, do you think… Well, I don’t want to be rude to the people of the Source, especially the Scions, but…”

“We’re taking the harp, absolutely,” Gaia confirms, knowing what Ryne is considering and sharply sniffing back more tears. “The poor thing is going to get destroyed out here with this volatile weather. Not to mention she’s long dead, she has no use for it any longer.” Ryne looks at Gaia with a shocked smile on her face, not sure how to respond. “Oh come now, can’t you hear her saying something along those lines? I firmly believe she’d surely want someone to look after it in her stead, rather than have it rot next to her. Don’t you feel the same?”

Ryne lets a few giggles escape her before she nods and crawls over the grave, grabbing the threadbare instrument from the dirt. She stares at it in her hands, feeling each indent with her fingertips and attempting to stop the steady stream of water running down her cheeks. “I know not where we’ll bring her yet, but as blunt as you are, I agree. It feels wrong to leave Cretia to erode into the dirt. I think Satril would be livid if we allowed that to happen. Then again, she might be upset that we’re taking her and putting her in harm’s way again…”

“Pick your poison, my Light,” Gaia shrugs, wiping away the last of her tears. “Although she hated people touching her precious instrument, I think leaving it out here is the greater sin in her book. Ultimately, she forfeited her right to have a say in the matter, now didn’t she?”

“Cretia comes with us then!” Ryne declares happily, clipping the harp to the waistband tied around her skirt as she had seen Satril do many times before. “Let’s call it an exchange of goods. It’s time we leave our offerings, yes?”

Gaia smiles and reaches into her pack, pulling out several blue flowers from Lyna, as well as some purple and orange ones the two Oracles retrieved from Il Mheg before leaving the First. Ryne digs a small rut in the dirt with her hands for Gaia to place the stems into, then replaces the dirt to prevent them from being carried by the wind, letting the colorful petals poke out against the gravestone. The pair stand up, taking a few more seconds to absorb the sight in front of them. After a few moments, Ryne nervously takes Gaia’s hand, who squeezes it back reassuringly. Eventually, Gaia gestures for them to return to the airship, where Cid Garlond awaits to bring them to their next destination.