Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The waters of the Ruby Sea were clear and calm, the best that one could ask for on a midsummer’s day. Unless, of course, you were the captain of a sailing ship, in which case it was exactly the wrong kind of weather. A Hyuran man, decked out in the regalia of one hailing from Hingashi, strode the deck of his ship, wondering why the winds had suddenly died down. He had little time to think, however, as another ship was rowing its way towards him, and waving the flag of the Confederacy.
“Hoist the standard of Sui-no-Sato!” he barked to one of his sailors, a Raen, who nodded and began raising the flag in question, that of a red flower on a white background. The oncoming vessel, however, made no attempt to slow down until it came alongside.
“You think that will save you?” yelled a young Roegadyn from the Confederate vessel. “All ships that pass through here must pay the Ruby Tithe!”
“Save for those that are bringing goods to or from Sui-no-Sato?” the Hyur questioned, as his crew raised their arms in surrender.
“No exceptions,” the Roegadyn barked. The crew of the Confederate vessel made their way to the railing, waiting for the word.
“Very well,” the captain said in resignation. He turned to his own crew. “Get the gil from down below,” he continued.

The next day, Saraven Arturus, Warrior of Light, woke up from his slumber. Sitting up and gathering his long black hair into a familiar ponytail, he looked around and saw the light filtering through the windows of Shisui of the Violet Tides. Clad in merely his smallclothes, he got out of the four-poster bed he shared with Her Royal Highness Kurenai Shisui and began putting his adventuring gear on. As he did so, he first tried to slip on his armor over his head, only to be stymied by an unseen force.
By the kami, I can’t believe I forgot this was glamoured, he thought to himself as he reconsidered his movement and started putting it on correctly. He tightened down the straps on his armor and began affixing his bow to his back as he heard the movement of sheets behind him.
“You’re awake early,” Kurenai said, her ruby-red hair framing her blue eyes and au ra horns.
“The light from the surface shone right in my eyes,” Saraven explained. His face tattoo offered a contrast to his gentle expression. As he spoke, there was a knock at the door. “Enter.”
“Your Highness, I bring a message from Sui-no-Sato.” Standing in the doorway was Hisui Sui, Kurenai’s lady-in-waiting, a fellow Raen and someone who could easily be confused for the Princess.
“What have they to say?” she asked, sitting up and covering herself.
“A vessel bringing goods to us was forced to submit to the Ruby Tithe.”
“Impossible, that agreement is long known to be in force,” Saraven seethed.
Hisui bowed. “I bring only information that I was told.”
“I shall have to make Rasho answer for this.”
“But first, the people must hear from me,” Kurenai said softly, slipping out of bed and beginning to get dressed. “I must ask that you wait until I reassure my people.”
Saraven kneeled and crossed his arm over his chest. “By your will, Your Highness.”

The three of them, riding on a striped ray, eventually arrived in Sui-no-Sato to a group assembled and murmuring with anger.
“Your Highness, these Confederates need to answer for their aggression!” exclaimed a Xaela, his tall form giving weight to his words.
“If they’re attacking merchants, when will they start coming for us?” asked a Raen woman, clearly shaken.
“My people,” Kurenai began softly, and a hush came over the crowd. “You have my word that I shall entreat the Confederacy to apologize and cease this aggression.” The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves. “We may keep to ourselves, but it need not mean that we stay silent and bear the abuse of others.” The crowd cheered slightly at this, and Kurenai bowed to the gathered crowd. “I shall ensure that this does not happen again,” she concluded, and as she as Hisui made their wait onto the striped ray, Saraven took off in the other direction, whistling for a wondrous lanner and hopping onto the bird, teal wings flapping as he raced for Heaven-on-High

Rasho Mastbreaker, Roegadyn leader of the Confederacy, observed one of his vessels make landfall at Crick. He made a gesture, and Tansui, his Hyuran second-in-command, got up from his seat and began walking down the steps to the shore. As the vessel unloaded, a young Roegadyn hopped off of the bow and landed in the sand.
“Excellent work, Glazdaeg,” Tansui remarked. “It’s been a while since a whelp like yourself had this impressive a haul on your first outing.”
“Well, I happened to get myself a nice merchant ship—”
Tansui held up a hand. “Where was it going?” he asked.
“Sui-no-Sato, or that’s what he claimed anyway.”
Tansui put his hand down slowly. “Do you know what you’ve done?” Tansui asked slowly.
“Tansui of the Confederacy!” shouted a voice from the heavens as Saraven stood on top of his mount and jumped off backwards, landing on the shore in front of Tansui and Glazdaeg.
“Wait, aren’t you the Warrior of Light or something?” Glazdaeg asked.
“I am,” Saraven replied, then turned back to Tansui. “A merchant vessel coming to Sui-no-Sato claims to have been subject to the Ruby Tithe. Is this true?”
“It appears to have been the case,” Tansui responded, turning towards Glazdaeg. “One of our whelps on his first command let the excitement get to him.”
“Very well. The Tithe is forfeit to us, and I will have a bloodprice too,” Saraven said flatly yet aggressively. He drew and nocked an arrow from his quiver. He turned to Glazdaeg. “Which hand do you use to fight with?” Glazdaeg opened up and raised his right hand; in that brief instant, Saraven raised and fired his bow, driving it through the Roegadyn’s hand. “Consider the bloodprice satisfied. Perhaps once he learns to respect the deals the Confederacy makes, he will be fit to take command,” Saraven explained to Tansui, before focusing his thoughts and winking away in teleportation.
“What the fuck was that?!” Glazdaeg asked in agony.
“Sui-no-Sato pays us ten percent of the value of whatever comes through in the merchant trade, and in return, we do not levy a Ruby Tithe on vessels coming or going to Sui-no-Sato,” Tansui explained. “You have definitely known of this prior to taking command of your vessel, you are shorebound until you heal.”

Shaking the saltwater out of his hair, Saraven entered into Shisui of the Violet Tides. Kurenai, still dressed in her normal attire, was attending to a matter with one of the priests. As he entered, the priest nodded and left her be.
“How fares my sword and shield?” she asked, approaching and embracing him.
“Still as sharp as ever,” he responded, returning her embrace. “I hope that the Confederacy’s next generation of pirates will remember how to make and honor deals.”

Chapter Text

Kurenai Shisui’s light footsteps still managed to echo as she made her way deep into the vault of the palace she called home. Tall stacks of records from Ruby Kings and Queens long since deceased, as well as items and other relics of the people of Sui-no-Sato, lined the sides, but they all led to a small clearing in the back. Here, several seemingly common items were placed on a circular altar, which projected up in the middle. As she pushed her ruby-red hair aside with one hand, her delicate au ra fingers on the other felt along the side of the projection to an indentation. Leaving a finger there for seemingly the briefest of moments, the projection opened up and spilt aside to reveal a modest, yet imposing crown. A single, perfectly cut and polished Shisui jewel sat in the middle of the metalwork, reminding the viewer of the calm Ruby Sea.

She looked back towards the opening as the sound of sandals, heavier than hers, echoed through the vault. After a moment or two, the source came into view: a Hyuran man, hair pulled back in a ponytail, face tattoo, and wearing nothing but a fireglass hoodie, fingerless gloves, and skintight shorts with ribbons wrapped around his legs. Bow and quiver full of arrows on his back, Saraven Arturus was walking with purpose. “I see you have returned, my love,” she said, going on the tips of her toes to kiss him on the cheek.

“I have, milady,” he replied, crossing his arm over his chest in an informal salute.

“I pray the discussions with the Twin Vows were fruitful?”

“They were.” Saraven finally acknowledged the crown before him. “I haven’t seen this since your coronation.”

“It remains here, safeguarded by the kami,” Kurenai explained. “I had a moment of tedium before you came back, and desired to see it again.”

“Is it heresy to wear it on a moment of whimsy?” Saraven asked.

“It is generally considered in poor taste, if not considered an insult to the kami,” Kurenai replied, “to wear it if you do not intend to wield the full power of the title Ruby Queen. I myself was only planning to observe it.”

“As you rightfully should!” boomed a voice from the far end of the vault. Standing in the doorway back towards the temple proper stood Shiosai, former guardian of Kurenai before she became smitten with, and later betrothed so, Saraven. The tall Raen male dressed in his usual temple garb strode in, followed closely behind by another Raen woman, so strikingly close in appearance to Kurenai that she was on more than one occasion mistaken for her.

As Shiosai’s heavy footfalls got closer, Saraven picked up on something he could at first barely hear. And then it got louder. “Stop!” he shouted, raising a hand towards the two newcomers. “Walk softer, and see if you see what I do.” He himself approached the crown while attempting to walk as softly as possible. As the four of them got as close as they could, what Saraven saw was instantly apparent: hairline fractures were beginning to form on the crown itself.

“By the kami,” Shiosai whispered furiously.

“I trust neither of you went to the effort of moving it?” asked the other Raen.

“No Hisui,” Kurenai replied. “We deliberated on it, but decided against it.”

Saraven looked at it, then dove into his bag. “Just a moment.” He grabbed a lapidary hammer, and in doing so found his gear transforming from the breezy, yet movable outfit suited for an archer into an outfit of gray, white, and red. The carbon fiber providing the base color as an apron of white flowed out over his legs, the gray hat resting comfortably on his head with a jeweler’s loupe at the ready. Reaching into his bag again, he pulled out a gray hunk of…something.

“What fantastic item is that?” Kurenai asked. “Dark matter,” Saraven replied as he placed it right up against the crown. “I use it to repair all my gear.” Taking the hammer, he tapped it lightly against the dark matter, only to find that nothing happened. He tapped again, a little harder. “Strange,” he mused as he delivered one more blow with yet again no results. He put the dark matter away and found that the crack had gotten larger. “That…is not supposed to happen.”

“What now?” Hisui asked.

“I shall have to search the archives,” Shiosai said, walking off to begin his work.

Saraven stood for a moment, deep in thought. He turned to Kurenai. “There’s a type of metal one can only find here, correct?”

“I am not sure,” she replied. “I am neither a Disciple of the Land nor the Hand, unlike you.”

Saraven thought some more. “I wonder if I need to com—” he started to say. “I’ve got it!” he continued excitedly as he started walking out towards the entrance. “I’ll need only the rest of the day!”

Mere minutes later, Saraven was “flying” through the Turquoise Trench, directing his wondrous lanner through the Ruby Sea as he kept visually scanning the seabed. He checked the spots he expected to find them, but the usual places where he could mine were simply not there. After he checked the third spot, his lanner seemed to almost shudder and then suddenly surfaced.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. The lanner cawed as it hovered, then turned without prompting towards an oversized ray-like creature towards Hell’s Kier. “What is that?” he asked rhetorically as the wondrous lanner flew towards and above it, only to suddenly buck Saraven off and disappear. He landed a few yalms away and found that he was unharmed and, for now, being ignored. He swapped to his bow and arrow and resumed his prior outfit. With the sun setting behind him, he nocked, drew, and fired an arrow at the large ray in front of him. It roared in rage and began to try and attack Saraven. As the two fought it out, the sun got lower and lower in the sky, but eventually with a jump and the triple strike of an Empyrean Arrow, the large ray gave up the fight and fell. As it dissolved into aether, it left behind a very large lump of ore. Saraven went to retrieve it, and picked it up. So that’s where it all went, Saraven thought to himself as he dove back into the waters of the Ruby Sea.

Kurenai, Shiosai, and Hisui were relaxing by the fire in the living quarters when a sound of a grinding wheel at work began filling the hall. “Saraven must be back,” Kurenai said, standing up and walking to the nearby door.

“The workshop is clear on the other side of the temple grounds,” Shiosai muttered as he and Hisui followed Kurenai out of the living quarters.

As the group got closer to the source of the noise, they realized he was working in front of the vault doors. As they rounded the corner, the grinding wheel stopped and the three were blinded by a particularly polished kopparanickel ingot.

“The kami have blessed your work,” Kurenai replied with a smile as she shielded her eyes.

“So they have,” Saraven replied, pocketing the ingot. “Let’s see if that helps.” As he put his tools away, Shiosai opened the door to the vault, and it was as they had left it only an hour or so ago. Returning to the altar, Saraven rested the ingot on the fracture and tapped it with his hammer. It again yielded no results, but the crown was also no worse for wear. He hesitantly grabbed the piece of dark matter he had before, placed it on top of the ingot, and struck it with his hammer. As he did so, he was forced back by the crown suddenly lifting off of its resting place. Circling the crown were the ingot and the piece of dark matter; as they turned into aetherical energy spheres, they fused with the crown, repairing the fractures and leaving what appeared to be a thin line of carbon where the fractures were.

“By the kami!” the group exclaimed as the crown returned to its prior resting place.

“I did not think such a miracle was possible,” Kurenai noted.

“And now for generations to come, the people of Sui-no-Sato will know that I existed and loved their Queen,” Saraven remarked with a smile, wrapping an arm around Kurenai's waist.

Chapter Text

                Saraven Arturus could feel the impact of yesterday's crafting in his muscles. The sinewy arms of an archer were not always meant for the work required of a blacksmith or an armorsmith, and fulfilling orders for his free company meant that when combat was done for the day, he could not rest. Except for today, as those who were in need of the newest recipes to come from the manuals were all caught up. He groaned as he sat up and looked around. The light of the dawn over Ul’dah was streaming through the windows of his large private estate, illuminating the bedroom furnished in the style of the Far East. He had done so on purpose; he wanted Kurenai, the Ruby Princess, to feel at home whenever she was able to sneak away from Shisui of the Violet Tides for a night. Her appearances, however, had been less frequent as of late. Their recent betrothal meant that more time was needed to prepare for two ceremonies; one at the Sanctum of the Twelve and the other at Shisui, one to be recognized by the world at large, and the other to be installed as Ruby Queen and King-Consort.

                He shook the melancholy of missing his beloved fiancée out of his mind and got dressed. His crafter’s gear, initially modeled after the gear worn by artisans of Alexandria, was glamoured over to resemble the carbonweave set, which used Garlean carbon fiber as a base. He picked up his leatherworking tools and set up his cutting mat on the main level. From there, however, he was stumped. I have nothing that needs making, yet I cannot think of something to make, Saraven thought to himself. As though a call from the heavens, at that moment his linkpearl went off.

                “This is Saraven,” he answered.

                “Good morning, my love,” sounded a soft, gentle feminine voice from the other end of the call.

                “Milady Kurenai, how may I be of service?”

                “I have called upon you and your most extensive knowledge of the outside world in order to help me with a task. How soon can you come to Shisui?”

                “In mere moments,” Saraven replied, disassembling his crafting setup.

                “Good,” she confirmed. “I look forward to your presence.” With that, the connection terminated, and Saraven was out the door.

                As stated, Saraven appeared at Shisui of the Violet Tides after a couple quick aetheryte teleports and some swimming, with the aid of his wondrous lanner. Shaking the saltwater out of his ponytail, he switched from his bard’s gear back into the crafting gear as he entered the temple proper and found the place to be busy, with a thin veneer of order covering the chaos.

                “I am here!” shouted a voice over the dull roar of priests and others milling about. Saraven turned and saw Kurenai waving to him, decked out in her usual garb and attended once again by Hisui, her lady-in-waiting. Saraven acknowledged the wave and strode over to her, boots clicking against the wooden floor of the temple. She embraced him as he finally stood in front of her.

                “So, what is this request?” Saraven asked.

                “I have heard of something from the New World…thunderyards silk,” Kurenai began to explain.

                “Yes, silk cultivated under the dome of Alexandria, charged with lightning aether,” Saraven interjected.

                “I was wondering if you could make something with that.”

                “For you, Your Highness, anything,” Saraven remarked, crossing his right arm over his chest in a familiar salute. “While I can eyeball your measurements…” he continued, rummaging through his bag and pulling out a tape measure. “…it would be better to have exact numbers. Hisui, can you measure the following?” He wrote down a list of measurements that he needed on a slip of parchement and gave it to the Raen lady-in-waiting.

                “Of course,” she said, giving an Eastern bow.

                “I shall not be long, milady,” Saraven said, saluting again before focusing his aether to teleport away.

                His teleportation landed him in Solution Nine, one of Everkeep’s residential zones. After adjusting to the neon-infused brightness of the area, he checked the map of the aethernet and zoomed in on the area of the Nexus Arcade. He shifted the map with his fingers, looking for a particular store. Finding it, he closed the map and activated the aethernet shard, teleporting to the Arcade. Arriving at the shopping zone, he took the teleport pad to the upper level and entered into a clothing store.

                “Welcome, sir,” the store attendant said.

                “Thank you,” Saraven replied. “I am looking for something special for a very special lady.”

                “How special?” she enquired.

                “Something meant just for her and mine eyes.”

                The shopkeeper nodded and motioned for Saraven to come to the back of the store, where a double-slit dress with chains adorning the chest and hip areas was hanging on a mannequin. “I think you will find this to be suitable for the task,” the shopkeeper noted.

                “That is exactly what I am looking for,” Saraven replied. He handed over a pouch of gil. “I’ll take it,” he continued.

                “Very good,” the shopkeeper said as she delicately removed the dress from the mannequin and packaged it up for Saraven. He thanked the shopkeeper and left, heading for the entrance to Everkeep. As he put the bag with the dress in his pack, he took to the air just outside Everkeep and flew over the wall in Heritage Found to where the levinsilk cocoons were. After gathering a few, he focused his aether and began to teleport away.

                Returning to Shisui, Saraven makes for the living quarters, where Kurenai and Husui were relaxing during a lull in activities. “Were you successful?” he asked Hisui.

                “I was,” she replied, handing Saraven a filled-out slip of parchment.

                Saraven smiled as he reviewed the notations and put the parchment away. “Excellent. I need some time, but I will let you know when it is ready.” With that, Saraven disappeared into a side room and set up his crafting stations for weaving, leatherworking, and goldsmithing. The first order of business was to disassemble the dress; taking a knife and seam ripper, he began taking it apart, pattern pieces forming in his head. Satisfied, he looked at the measurements and began refining the levinsilk into the bolts of thunderyards silk to make the dress. With practiced precision, he found the bolts to be to his liking and began cutting the pieces out. Fingers deftly working the needle, his mind drifted briefly to the next step, only for Saraven to lose his concentration and prick himself with the needle. Cursing himself, he was able to stanch the minor bleeding and continue putting the dress together. With the dress itself together, he then set to work on the chains, making them out of some white gold he happened to have in the bottom of his bag. Making the final adjustments to the dress on a portable form he had set up as well, he affixed the chains to the proper points. He cleaned up the workstation and found that there were no scraps left behind, just as he had planned. “Hisui, please assist Her Highness with the item on the dress form. I will make myself ready presently.”

                “Of course,” Hisui replied, and the two Raen disappeared into the side room. In the meantime, Saraven got himself dressed in a set of gyuki leather attire, calling back to the monsters that roamed over the Ruby Sea. Hisui then left the side room. “Saraven…Her Highness is most thankful…but is not sure what to make of it.”

                Saraven nodded and entered into the side room, to see Kurenai dressed in the dress he had made. “Milady…I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look this lovely.”

                She tentatively stepped towards him, her legs slipping through the slits effortlessly. “And you, my Lord, are far more handsome than in even my wildest dreams.”

Chapter Text

A pair of striped rays flew through the evening air over the Ruby Sea. The sun had just set, and the cool air flowed past the faces of Saraven Arturus and Kurenai Shisui. They made their way to a small island with a single tree growing on it, and they dismounted from the rays.

                “It is such a lovely night,” Kurenai mused as she finally got a chance to be close to her new husband for the first time in a short bit of time. She almost draped herself over him as the two laid down on the grass.

                “It is indeed, and only made better by the fact that you are here with me,” Saraven replied. He looked down and saw the moonlight glint catching on their rings. “By the Twelve, that ring looks better on you every time I look at it.”

                Kurenai giggled. “’Tis a shame the kojin are not able to tame the larger rays. I would have like to have been with you on our travel from Kugane.”

                Saraven sighed. “My apologies, milady. I will have to speak to Kabuto and see if he can do so for Her Majesty’s sake.” He chuckled. “That will take some getting used to,” he continued.

                Kurenai looked up at him. “Your Highness,” she said, attempting to keep a straight face, but failing to do so. “That will take repetition from me as well.”

                Saraven bent over to kiss her on the lips. “We have all the time in the world, my Queen. With our honeymoon now over, ‘tis time to face the music and actually rule.” He sat up and looked out over the sea. “I can only hope ruling over the good people of Sui-no-Sato isn’t too difficult. But we shall see.”

                Kurenai did the same. “They are reclusive, as you already know. But protect them well, and I am certain they will open up to the outside world as I have.”

                “I shall do so with every fiber of my being, every arrow in my quiver, and all my other weapons besides,” he swore, as he whistled for his striped ray to make an appearance. As it appeared, he crossed his right arm over his chest in his usual salute and offered his other arm. “Hopefully the short distance to Shisui will be just enough for both of us to share this one.”

                Kurenai smiled and took his arm. “Hopefully.”

                The morning sun filtered through the seawater over the palace, and Saraven’s eyes opened gently. Next to him, sleeping still, was Kurenai. He then heard, strangely, a knock at the door. He got up, put on a robe, and went to the door, only to find Hisui and Shiosai on the other side. “Good morning to you both,” Saraven said, a tinge of sarcasm escaping his lips.

                “You have something to address at once,” Shiosai noted. “Hisui, see that Her Highness awakens shortly for her first ritual of the day.” Hisui bowed and entered into the bedroom. Saraven followed Shiosai out, or tried to. “Get properly dressed.” Saraven furrowed his brow, and turned back into the bedroom. He stripped off the robe and put on his Eastern lord’s attire, no doubt assuming that something official demanded his attention.

                A couple minutes later, Saraven entered the throne room and located Shiosai. “So, what is this pressing matter?”

                “You know just as well as I do that as the Ruby Queen, she cannot leave the palace officially. Her unofficial departures will have to be even more restricted than before.”

                “Okay…” Saraven trailed off into thought. “I was under the impression that I was simply going to be her representative and voice in the wider world regardless.”

                “There will be events that require you to have a companion. And if she cannot leave the palace, then taking Hisui is also out of the question.”

                “Then what do you suggest?”

                “It may be best if you take a concubine for yourself.”

                At this suggestion, Saraven cocked an eyebrow. “A concubine? You genuinely suggest that I become—”

                Shiosai sighed. “It is not meant to suggest that you become unfaithful to Her Highness!” he exclaimed, exasperated. “Whether this concubine is nothing but a source of heirs to the throne or something more is your decision.”

                Saraven had nothing to say, at least not initially. “I will…have to think on it, if nothing else.”

                “You know already what you must do. The Archives of Sui-no-Sato are open to you if you are uncertain.”

                Saraven sighed, and then as though to certify the finality of the discussion, the two men parted ways.

                The vault doors opened to Saraven as he entered into the archives of Sui-no-Sato. His finger ran along the shelves, the bottom rails holding up various scrolls. He came across a couple that caught his attention and pulled them delicately from the shelf. He also found a third one, off to the side. He found a desk in the middle of the archives and unfurled the first one. It was a record of the Ruby Households of generations past, up to and including the Ruby King and Queen that begat Kurenai. There was the occasional mention of concubines and other members of the Ruby Household that were clearly not siblings or otherwise. The scroll, however, did not have many details about these non-familial relationships.

                Rolling that scroll up, he grabbed the second one when he heard the familiar shuffling of light, feminine feet on the floor of the vault. He turned to see Kurenai entering the vault and approaching the desk. “Milord, Shiosai spoke of your pressing task.”

                “Please, don’t call me that,” Saraven replied, bristling slightly. “You know just as well as I that we intend to reign as equals, but if either of us must be supreme, then you are by right.”

                “Forgive me,” Kurenai said softly with a bow.

                Saraven took a deep breath. “Likewise,” he said. “Shiosai’s charge was a lot to take in first thing in the morning.”

                Kurenai smiled. “You are aware that it is not a decision that you must make today?”

                “Fully. But I wanted to get started while you were occupied with your ritual. Speaking of, what do the kami have to say on this morning?”

                “They were…less than precise with their language,” Kurenai explained. “They did not have any answers, either; it would not have mattered if they spoke with the clarity of the Sea itself.”

                “Disappointing. Was it on this subject, or did they not say?”

                Kurenai merely shrugged. She took a closer look at the scroll Saraven had not yet unfolded. “I believe you will find, my love, that the answer is most likely in that scoll. It tells of how certain Ruby Queens of the prior ages…handled members of the Ruby Household not related by blood or genuine matrimony.”

                “Fascinating. You are most likely correct, then. This one also caught my eye,” Saraven noted, pointing to the third scroll he had picked up.

                Kurenai picked it up and unrolled it. “Ah! This is not a historical record, but a fictional tale. It tells the story of an adventuring party, where most of them are all in a relationship together. It is not yet complete, however. It seems I find new parts to the story every time I look at it.” She read the scroll for a moment. “It looks like they just found themselves against some kind of angelic creature that they have never seen before.”

                Saraven laughed. “You are correct, that may not be the most help.” He picked up the first scroll and handed it back to Kurenai. “Would you mind replacing it on the shelf? I will be here for some time.”

                Kurenai took the scroll and bowed. “Of course.” She smiled and returned the scrolls to the shelf as she left the vault.

                Saraven returned to the scroll in front of him. Unfurling it, he began to read; as he did so, he realized he needed to jot down some notes. He looked into his bag and found a scrap of parchment, as well as a writing utensil. The notes started off in general terms and got more detailed as he kept reading. As he read the final passage, however, his tip broke. He looked down at what he had written on the paper and his eyes widened as he realized the answer had come to him. He gathered up his materials and strode out of the vault, his mission clear.

Chapter Text

                The light from the sun shone through the windows of the Bokairo Inn. It happened to land on the eyes of a certain Saraven Arturus, who instinctively turned away and towards the other side of the bed, occupied by none other than Kurenai Shisui herself. She, in turn, pushed him gently off of her, for his head had landed on her horns. He sighed and resigned himself to his fate, rolling out of bed and standing up. I hate the harsh sunlight on the surface, Saraven thought to himself as he began to get dressed for the day. He opted for a set of gyuki leather fending gear, since the two were not here on business for Sui-no-Sato.

                As he finished getting dressed, he heard the cute, feminine grumbles of Kurenai beginning to wake from her slumber. She blinked her eyes and looked up. “Good morning,” she said with a smile. “Please take care around my horns…it is hard to explain, but the effect of being touched there is most unpleasant.”

                “Forgive me, milady,” Saraven replied. “I appear to have gotten used to the filtered sun at the bottom of the sea,” he explained. “Now that you have awoken, it is time to make yourself presentable, yes?” he queried, walking over to a small, red and white pack he had made and made up for her. “Let’s see…ah, here we are.” He pulled out a small brush from the bag.

                “Do be gentle. Although it is short, it can find itself in all sorts of strange places,” Kurenai requested as she sat up, pulling the covers over herself instinctively.

                “Of course,” he said, sitting behind her and gently began brushing her hair. As he did so, he ran his fingers through her hair, feeling the soft texture underneath. The morning hours, before court or spiritual matters required their attention, was the perfect time for these moments of gentle intimacy; indeed, they were often the only time. “There we go,” he whispered in her ear, with one final brush. “Perfect and divinely beautiful, as always.”

                A rare blush came across Kurenai’s face. “Cease your extravagant compliments,” she said with a giggling smile.

                “Your request is politely declined,” he said. “Let’s get you dressed.”

                The seabreeze was gentle as the two left their inn room and took in the sights of Kugane. Though the day was young, it did not mean that the markets were quiet. There were people coming and going from seemingly every corner and alley of the city.

                Kurenai, dressed in her familiar attire, turned to Saraven. “I have heard naught but good things about the hot springs.”

                “Do you have a bathing suit?” Saraven inquired. “I would be surprised, personally, if it was something normally made for Your Highness, especially—” Saraven was interrupted as a pair of Hyur women walked past in short shorts and bikini tops. “—something like that.”

                Kurenai blushed. “No, nothing of the sort is anywhere in my clothing,” she replied.

                Saraven bent down and whispered in her ear. “I would most prefer to see you in one myself; let’s make our way to the market and we can find a tailor.”

                Kurenai covered her mouth in surprise. “Is that something one normally does?” she asked.

                “For a commoner, yes, one would find one from a tailor. If you’d like, I can source the materials in the market and make one for you.”

                “That would be preferable.”

                “Let’s make our way down then, and you can create one to your heart’s content.”

                With the markets truly in a flurry of activity as the stalls opened to the public, Kurenai’s gaze wandered from stall to stall. She would point out a fabric, and Saraven would explain how it would feel and move on her body. She saw several styles of swimsuit, and Saraven would hold one out in front of her to see if she liked it or not. After what felt like longer than he originally suspected, Saraven held a couple bolts of fabric and an unusual book of weaver’s patterns in his hands. Checking in with Kurenai one last time, she nodded, and Saraven went for his gil to pay. “Someone has expensive tastes,” came a voice from behind the pair.

                Saraven turned around and found a trio of Hyuran men, the three blocking the immediately obvious path back to the Inn. “Aye, and what of it?” he asked, suspicious of such a question.

                “Expensive taste means a man of wealth…wealth we will take,” the first one said, as the trio drew knives. Kurenai withdrew behind Saraven immediately, drawing a laugh from the group of ruffians. “That’s right, hide behind your benefactor, princess!”

                “How do they know—” Kurenai started to whisper.

                “They don’t,” Saraven whispered back. “It’s an expression. But don’t you worry.” He drew his gunblade from his back, glamoured over from the ceremonial form he crafted himself to resemble the gunblades made as part of a test for the Shisui guards, and pointed it at the group. “Listen well. You don’t appear to know who I am…that’s fine. But I have felled primals, eikons, whatever you want to call them. I brought the viceroy Yotsuyu down from her perch, I liberated Doma!” he called out, punctuating the last three words for emphasis. “You are no match and no threat to me. Begone, or you will have to choose between the Sekiseigumi or me!”

                “Ijin!” shouted one of the men in the back of the trio, as he drew a pistol and aimed it at Saraven.

                Saraven aimed his gunblade straight up and fired it once, creating a massive, impenetrable shield around him and Kurenai, just in time for the robber’s pistol to go off and the bullet bounced off the shield harmlessly. He then aimed it down and pulled the trigger again, firing an aether-enhanced cartridge at the man with the gun, causing him to drop immediately on impact. The other two took off running, leaving their fallen friend where he landed. “Here, my love, hold these,” he said, handing the bolts and book to Kurenai while he suddenly shifted form from the gunbreaker to the studious sage. The noulinths flew off his back as he prepared a Diagnosis spell to heal the criminal who shot him.

                “Halt, in the name of the Sekiseigumi!” shouted a voice from behind Saraven. Two samurai approached from each side, blocking any further attempts to leave. The criminal Hyur stood up, only to put his hands up in surrender upon recognizing the situation before him. “You will both surrender—” the first samurai began to say, before stopping as her eyes swept across the scene and fell on Kurenai. “Are you…?”

                “She is,” Saraven replied, showing his hands down low as the noulinths returned to his back. “We were accosted by this man and two others.”

                “Our apologies,” the first samurai said, bowing. “Had we known you were coming we would have ensured further security.”

                “We are not here on official business. If there is nothing further, we will be on our way.” Reverting to his gunbreaker form, Saraven took back the bolts and book and gestured with his head for Kurenai to follow him past the samurai and take the long way back to the inn.

                After a couple of hours, the sun was high in the sky. The markets slowed down as most people were eating a well-deserved lunch or simply avoiding the heat of the middle of the day. Saraven, however, was just putting the finishing touches on the bathing suit for Kurenai. Satisfied, he cleaned up the crafting stations and laid it out on the bed for her, as he took leave of the room. Finding her just outside, he gestures into the room and closed the door behind her. He walked out of the inn and over to the Bokaisen Hot Springs, selecting the one furthest away from the main entrance. Wearing nothing but a pair of Summer Sunset bottoms and matching sandals, he lowered himself into the spring, finding it to be quite warm yet most refreshing. He took a deep breath in and let it out, allowing himself to relax, if seemingly only for a moment.

                “How do I look?” asked a familiar voice from around the corner. He raised his head to see Kurenai in a wine red halter-top bikini with snow-white bottoms, a slit cut in the back for her tail.

                “I could not take my eyes off you if I tried,” Saraven replied, coming over to take her hand and lead her into the hot spring.

Chapter Text

Saraven woke up in a room he barely knew existed until the night before. The sparse accommodations, not unlike his room in the Free Company which he kept for appearances but little else, consisted of a cot and a desk. On the desk was the scroll whose seal he had broken upon entering, and contained diagrams as well as prayers and rituals. He sat up on his cot and found that his noulinths were stacked up at the foot of his bed. With a thought, they hovered in front of him, waiting to be returned to their holsters. He began dressing himself; rare for him, he actually has a chasuble for his choice of attire, wearing a set made from ruby cotton, gyuki leather, and koppranickel. This was less about form and more about function, since the sage’s job crystal expanded his ability to learn and recall knowledge beyond even what he thought he was capable of, and thus needing the dress the part. Making sure everything was tied down or otherwise in place, he willed the noulinths into their holsters, and they complied. Taking one last look at the scroll on the desk, he walked over to the door, and waited.

Meanwhile, Kurenai sat, kneeling, on a mat in a private ritual hall. Before her, Shiosai had a scroll in his hands, and behind him was a statue, carved out of the stone from the floor of the Ruby Sea. Both of them were dressed in formal attire for the occasion.

“As the Queens and Kings who have preceded us have done, and the Queens and Kings who will come hereafter will do, let us inform our ancestors of what is come,” Shiosai read out loud off the scroll.

Kurenai joined her hands and began to move them from side to side, emulating the Kojin’s ritual prayer movement. “My honored ancestors, know that it is time for I, Kurenai Shisui, to accept the title, honor, and responsibilities of Ruby Queen.”

Shiosai moved the scroll gently. “Your Highness Kurenai, do you take this title alone?”

Kurenai continued the ritual. “I have found comfort and aid with the soul of Saraven Arturus.”

“Is he here?”

“He is.” At that statement, the door to the ritual hall was opened slowly, and Saraven stepped into the room slowly, each step measured and gentle. Once fully inside, the doors were closed behind him, and he too began making the ritual movement that Kurenai was making. After a few moments of walking and prayer, Saraven took a kneeling position on a second mat next to Kurenai.

“Saraven Arturus. You are not of Sui-no-Sato. These rituals are not known to you. Are you ready to embark on them nonetheless?” Shiosai asked.

“I am.”

Shiosai continued. “Then speak to your ancestors and ours, and inform them of what is to come.”

Saraven nodded. “Honored ancestors, of Sui-no-Sato and Ul’dah, know that it is time for I, Saraven Arturus, to accept the title, honor, and responsibilities of Ruby King.”

"Your Highness Saraven, do you take this title alone?”

“I have found comfort and joy in the soul of Kurenai Shisui. I freely pledge and bind my soul to her, and to support her reign as the Ruby Queen.”

Shiosai turned back to Kurenai. “Do you accept his pledge?”

“I do, and I freely pledge and bind my soul to him, that he may serve as my voice to the people of Sui-no-Sato and the world entire.”

Shiosai nodded and rolled the scroll up. He walked slowly behind the statue, and tapped it with a hammer that had been placed next to it. A bell rung elsewhere in the temple as it was struck. Hearing the bell, Shiosai gently picked up a circlet-style crown with a large Shisui jewel in the front and a couple bands of kopparanickel on the sides from a box, and walked slowly back around the statue and stopped in front of Kurenai. He bent down at the waist and placed the crown on her head. He lifted it away, and watched for a moment. With nothing happening, he repeated the same ritual, this time picking up a larger, more elaborate crown, with more Shisui jewels than the other one. He walked around and placed this one on Saraven’s head.

As Shiosai let go and allowed the crown to settle on Saraven’s head, Saraven could feel himself tip forward suddenly. It was taking all of his physical strength to not let his forehead meet the floor in front of him. Why is this crown so heavy? Saraven thought to himself.

It is because you are not aware of the true weight of what you are to carry, a voice echoed in his head.

How can that be? Saraven thought, hoping that whatever was addressing him would be able to understand it.

You are not a ruler. You never were meant to be, a second voice echoed in his head.

Who are you? Saraven “asked”.

Come now, Tenzen would never have had to ask that, replied a female voice.

Saraven now recognized who he was hearing. I have felled eikons the world over…I have defeated the very embodiment of despair itself at the far edge of the universe…but most of all, I have brought calm to those who speak to me, by willingly accepting a challenge to taper their aramitama.

Power means nothing alone! Replied a fourth voice.

I do not seek power here. I am an extension of Kurenai, I am not her replacement.

The first voice returned. And what of the people of Sui-no-Sato?

I am not their father. I am not a weapon to be turned against a neighbor. We, however, are their guiding star, their shield against those who seek to harm them. We are their protectors as Sui-no-Sato becomes part of the world that changes without them.

There was silence in his head. He thought about turning to face Kurenai, but he had to keep focused on not capitulating to the weight. He could feel the strain beginning to get to him, but he had to hold on. He had to prove himself to the kami.

We have spoken to Her Highness. We will be watching. As the voice faded away, the crown suddenly felt light as a cloudkin feather that Kurenai occasionally asked to be delivered. It felt as though something was bearing the weight of the crown in his stead.

He was able to return to a fully upright position and looked up. Shiosai still had a look of shock on his face, but he regained his composure when he recognized Saraven had come out of his state. Shiosai gestured for the two to rise, which they did, and then to walk out the door, which they did slowly.

Upon exiting, the hallway was lined with the priests and other attendants of the palace, all bowing before the pair. The two walked silently, Kurenai’s arm on top of Saraven’s. The attendants came up out of their bows as the couple walked past each one. They eventually stopped at a side door, which was opened for them as they approached. It led to a pair of thrones atop a dais. The two continued to walk silently up the stairs of the dais and took their seats on their respective thrones. Before them, Hien Rijin and Yugiri Mistwalker were kneeling; Rasho Mastbreaker, however, stood respectfully.

Kurenai broke the silence. “To the leaders of Othard and Doma, we welcome and thank you for your audience today. The Ruby Throne wishes you all health, good fortune, and peace between our peoples.”

Rasho spoke next. “We do not recognize your authority over us, claimed or threatened, but we hope that your reign will be peaceful and that our Confederacy will not prove to be a thorn in your side.”

Hien rose to his feet. “The people of Doma send their regards and well wishes to the Ruby Queen and King. Banzai!” he exclaimed, bowing. Rasho and Hien then took their leave.

Yugiri looked up, and Kurenai gestured for her to rise. “Your Highness,” she began, “long have our people awaited this day.” She then heeded the gesture and stood. “Know that with the Warrior of Light by your side, our people shall have peace and prosperity as long as you both shall reign. Banzai.” She then bowed and left the throne room.

Kurenai looked to Saraven, with the throne room now otherwise emply. “What happened with the crown? You gave us both such a fright.”

“The auspices were testing me. They were not sure I was able to rule, given that I am neither of royal blood nor of Sui-no-Sato.”

“That is…most concerning.”

“I knew I could not let the crown touch the floor. I advocated for myself, and they appear to be, at the very least, temporarily satisfied.” He reached out for her hand. “I felt the crown’s weight being lifted when they were finally done, as though you were reaching out and taking the weight.”

“I felt no change,” Kurenai commented, taking his hand.

“Then you wear the weight of power well,” Saraven remarked with a smile. “As I promised the auspices, I am an extension of you. I speak only with your voice and act only as you would.”

A knock was heard at the main entrance to the throne room. “You may approach,” Kurenai replied, and Shiosai entered. “What news have you?”

“I cannot find any record of what transpired in the ritual room having happened before.”

Saraven’s eyes widened. “Then we are meant to make history, it would appear.”

Chapter Text

                Saraven Arturus strode up the stairs leading from the hold of the sailing vessel he was on. He could feel the breeze of the wind as he shielded his eyes from the overhead sun. Looking around, he could see that the vessel was mere minutes from docking at the port in Old Sharlayan. He grabbed his bag and shuffled around, looking for a sealed envelope that he had placed into his bag before departing from Limsa Lominsa. Finding it, he closed his bag up and made his way towards the port side of the vessel. Once the vessel finally docked, he made his way to the Worldly Affairs office. He had not had to formally check in here since he attuned to the aetheryte, but given the nature of his mission, he believed it was appropriate to do so.

                “Name?” asked the Lalafell that operated the desk, quill and parchment at the ready.

                “Saraven Arturus-Shisui.”

                The Lalafell looked up, quizzically. She then returned to her paperwork. “Reason for visit?”

                “Official state business of the Ruby Throne of Sui-no-Sato.”

                The Lalafell put the quill down. “Sharlayan has no tolerance for joke answers. Why are you here?”

                “As stated, I am here on business for Kurenai Shisui, the Ruby Queen of Sui-no-Sato. I am Saraven Arthurus-Shisui, the Ruby King.”

                The lalafell put a finger to her ear, no doubt activating a linkpearl. “This is Popolu, requesting assistance at the Worldly Affairs office. Got a Hyuran male, claiming to be the Ruby King.” She took her finger away. “Wait here,” she directed, pointing off towards the side back towards the ship he came over on.

                After a few minutes, three figures came down the steps near the Guild office and approached the Worldly Affairs office, all three dressed in the formal attire of the Forum. An elezen with red hair stepped forward from the other two. “Is this the man?” he inquired.

                “Yes, Speaker Clarke,” Popolu confirmed. “He claims to be the Ruby King.”

                “As is his right,” spoke up another elezen, this one with hair whitened with age. “He is who he claims to be; I was at his wedding on behalf of the Forum.”

                “Monsieur Forchenault,” Saraven noted, bowing in respect. “If I recall you gave an excellent speech wishing us good health and a peaceful reign.”

                “I may have had to write it for him,” noted the third man, an elderly elezen as well.

                “Scholarch Montichaigne,” Saraven acknowledged. “I trust the faculty are well?”

                “They are,” he replied. “Now as for this business with the Worldly Affairs office, I am surprised you did not send word ahead.”

                “Had I thought of it, I would’ve done so,” Saraven admitted. “The nature of my business here was occupying my thoughts.”

                “So very strange that you would take a ship, seemingly to keep with diplomatic protocol of arriving at an actual entrance, and yet not notify your intended host nation,” Forchenault noted. “What sort of business do you have?”

                “I seek a certain archon. I last knew that she was assisting the Bozjan resistance with the matter of Queen Gunnhildr, but have not heard from her since.”

                “You will find her in the library, most likely. She has been updating our records on the incidents in Bozja, as well as the occurrences in Dalamasca with the Majestic Imperial Theatre Company,” Montichaigne responded.

                “But what business do you have with her? She is currently employed with the Studium,” Speaker Clarke replied.

                “That, unfortunately, remains the private business of the Ruby Throne. Rest assured, however, that even if she receives this request positively, it need not impact her activity here.”

                Speaker Clarke nodded. “Very well. We will escort you to the Studium and summon her.” He turned back to Popolu. “We should have our records updated to reflect his status. The information presented was accurate.”

                “Of course,” she replied flatly as she scratched some words on the parchment and placed it aside.

                After a few minutes of walking the winding path of Sharlayan, the group entered the central structure of Phenomenon. The students and faculty milling about all seemed to instinctively give the group plenty of room. Winding through the corridors, they eventually stopped in front of a small research room. “Wait here,” the Scholarch requested, as he went further down a corridor and disappeared around a corner.

                “I suppose we are no longer needed?” Speaker Clarke asked.

                “I suspect you would be correct,” Saraven noted. The two politicians took their leave. Within a couple of minutes, the Scholarch returned with an Au Ra woman, with somewhat curly blond hair. The Scholarch bowed and left the two alone. “Miss Mikoto,” Saraven greeted.

                “I am surprised to see you again,” Mikoto Jinba replied.

                Saraven bowed. “My apologies for not speaking to you since we left Bozja. I have been to the far edge of fate and back.”

                “You must have so many stories.”

                “Let’s go into the side room. We should be comfortable.” With that, Saraven began to regal her with the stories of coming to Sharlayan, the invasion of Garlemald, and how he was handling the Final Days, from time travel and space travel and everything in between. After some time, Saraven’s stories brought him to the present day.

                “Your adventures have certainly been interesting, to say nothing of your romance of the Ruby Princess.”

                Saraven smiled. “Indeed. Strange how things happen in this fashion.”

                “Speaking of strange, why did you summon me?”

                Saraven sighed. “I will admit, this has been something occupying my mind since it was charged to me. It was part of the reason I came by boat rather than teleporting by aetheryte.” He pulled the sealed letter out of his bag. “It is, if I am to understand the archives of Shisui, not exactly uncommon for…others to be part of the Ruby Household.”

                “Well, that makes sense. There could be brothers, sisters, children—”

                “Not in that sense,” Saraven interjected. “As in courtesans…or concubines.”

                Mikoto looked at Saraven with shock. “Are you genuinely suggesting that you take me as a concubine?” she asked, incredulously.

                “I am.”

                “Why would you ask me that?!” she continued, offended. “I will not be reduced to a slave meant only to—”

                “I would never!” Saraven barked, attempting to speak over her.

                “You do not speak to me for months, only to come back to me and without so much as a conversation otherwise, you recommend me as a concubine?” Mikoto asked rhetorically.

                Saraven put the sealed letter on the table. “Read this when you can. Unless you simply wish to destroy it. But if you do, tell me so I’m not waiting for an answer that will not come.” Saraven then stood up and walked out of the side room, making for the Baldesion Annex. After a couple minutes of waiting, Mikoto tentatively reached for the sealed letter and picked it up, gently unsealing it and reviewing the contents.

                Saraven woke up the next morning, light not quite shining on his face but still bright enough to force his eyes open. Putting his linkpearl in his ear, he attempted to contact Kurenai, but the call went unanswered. Sighing, he dismissed the call and got dressed. Walking slowly as the day had yet to truly begin for himself or, really, anyone else, he eventually walked past the aetheryte plaza and found himself at The Last Stand. He approached Dickon at the counter. “What do we have today?” he inquired.

                “To drink, or to eat?” Dickon asked to clarify.

                “Yes,” Saraven answered. “Actually…can you make some Doman tea and pretzels?”

                Dickon bowed. “For the Warrior of Light? Anything.”

                Saraven bowed as well, leaving a stack of gil and taking a seat at a table. He looked out to the harbor, watching the water fall from Thaliak’s ewer back into the sea. He almost zoned out watching the water loop between sea and statue, until he heard a chair scrape against the ground.

                “May I join you?” asked Mikoto, who looked as though she had not slept a bell since the two had met yesterday.

                “Of course,” Saraven said, gesturing for her to sit. A waiter came by as soon as she sat down.

                “I’ll have some tea,” Mikoto requested.

                Saraven gave the waiter a small batch of gil. “Have Dickon bring it out with my order, please,” Saraven asked, which was responded to with a nod as they left to go back to the main building. “So…you’ve come to see me.”

                “Yes. It kept me up the entire night. It was so much to think about.”

                “I will say, I was wrong to spring this on you without warning.”

                “I still don’t know how to respond to this. This offer is quite generous…but I am still unable to get past the implication of a concubine.”

                “I understand,” Saraven replied, as the food and drinks arrived. “I used the word that was used in the records and by Shiosai. I do not foresee that you would be needed in that regard, and I certainly would not request such from you without your consent.”

                Mikoto smiled. “I appreciate your confirmation. It does give me some ease, but I will need to think on it more.”

                Saraven smiled back. “Naturally. It’s quite an ask.” The two then began to consume their food and drink, not speaking for the rest of the meal. Eventually, the two finished their food. “I ought to return to Shisui in short order,” Saraven said, standing up. “I imagine you have much to research still?”

                “It never stops. Always some refraction or decay to analyze,” Mikoto said, standing as well. “I shall hopefully have a response within a day or two; I will deliver it in person.”

                Saraven reached out to her, arms wide. She tentatively stepped forward and embraced him. “Know whatever decision you make will be honored and respected.”

                Two days later, Saraven and Kurenai were taking a walk on the palace grounds when one of the priests came up to them. “Your Highnesses, a messenger has come from Crick. A Raen scientist from Sharlayan has arrived, looking for passage to here.”

                “That must be Mikoto,” Saraven said to Kurenai. “I will meet her personally,” he said to the priest. He then focused his thoughts on the aetheryte crystal, and he winked out of existence.

                Reappearing on the beach on the island of Onokoro, he found Mikoto in her usual outfit waiting by the aetheryte. He approached. “I see you have come as you said you would.”

                “I have indeed,” she said with a smile. “I will accept your offer. I notified the Scholarch, who was shocked initially when I mentioned it; however, when I explained that my time at Shisui would be limited and that my research at the Studium was to come first, as long as the information was shared with Sui-no-Sato, there was no objection from him. He was also surprised that certain aspects of what he believed to be the duties of a concubine were not deemed necessary.”

                Saraven took in her reply, and initially said nothing. “Welcome home,” was all he could say. “Shall we see you to your quarters? We just had an small aetheryte installed. Just enough that you can get to Shisui from here.” The two of them focused their energies, and warped out of existence.