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Alisaie was a lot of things, and she knew it. And one thing she did know was that she was not like her brother.
Her brother was a lot of things, too. He was easily spooked, and he was too verbose far too often.
But he was kind. So, so kind.
Kindness was a weakness and a strength with him. A failing, sometimes. His kindness could come out as arrogance. When they were still at the Studium, Alphinaud talked her ear off about how he was going to save Eorzea from itself. When she was traveling through Eorzea, she heard tales of her brother and his Crystal Braves. Ambitious plans, hopeful plans, and ones she knew would not pan out the way he wanted them to. She hoped for his sake that they would work, she really did, but it was not a surprise to Alisaie when she heard about the Crystal Braves rebelling against their leader.
It didn’t stop her from begging for help on his behalf, of course. He was still her brother, after all. Even though she didn’t show it, she loved her twin and would be there if he needed her. Sometimes when he didn’t need her, too.
Alisaie knew her brother was kind, but it came as a surprise even to her as she listened to her idol, the Warrior of Light, regale the journey they all took to try brokering peace between dragons and man. She listened with rapt attention as the Warrior of Light said it was Alphinaud who suggested talking to Lady Iceheart to try requesting her aid in ending the Dragonsong War. Who knew he had it in him? She knew Alphinaud was a diplomat at heart, but this was incredible. It was certainly a step above brokering for a fighting force like the Crystal Braves.
His kindness would be the death of him, however, and she worried. “I can take care of myself, you know!” she insisted. She could see the huge monster behind him. What was he thinking, turning his back on it?! Alisaie could take care of herself! Alphinaud needed to watch his back!
Her brother merely rolled his eyes affectionately and shook his head. “As long as you’re all right, Alisaie.”
“Eyes on the enemy, Alphinaud. Worry about me later!”
He smiled at her and cast another spell. They were scolded for their bickering later, but it still wouldn’t stop him from worrying over her needlessly. Her brother was going to do what he wanted, even if it risked his own safety. Alisaie knew she got called reckless and often used that to her advantage, but really, her brother was reckless too, if one thought on it long enough.
No one ever would, though, and that… that was okay. It let her tease her brother and encourage him. Alisaie truly admired and respected her brother, but he would never grow if people thought he was perfect. If anything, the sentiment would get to his head, so she had to keep him grounded.
Anyone else would have immediately begun to strategize how to follow Vauthry and destroy the last Lightwarden. But Alphinaud, her good, kind brother, stopped and begged the Scions to take care of those in Eulmore instead. Until that moment, Alisaie had never thought too much about his experiences in Kholusia. She knew it had affected him, just like how Amh Araeng had affected her, but she had been rather occupied by what happened to her. Too many people in that year spent at the Inn had been given a final meal. The pain in people’s eyes was palpable as they came to the Inn, desperate for a safe haven while they slowly died. She’d witnessed Tesleen’s transformation and couldn’t do anything to stop it.
Evidently, while she was hardening her heart to the horrors of the world to try masking the pain, Alphinaud had been trying to open up to others so that he could help them. He gave up his place in Eulmore to be kind to Kai-Shirr, and then he healed Tristol when the man had been thrown out. He stood up to Vauthry in defense of Kai-Shirr, bravery and kindness mixed together. Alphinaud had come out a little more cynical, a little more jaded, but he was still kind.
Alisaie admired that about him. Therefore, she was going to do her best to protect her brother and his innate kindness. She would tease and bicker with him, because that was what sisters did, and sometimes, he really did get on her nerves. But even so, she couldn’t forget what they had both been through. There was something uniquely horrifying in seeing your brother’s soulless body, and she couldn’t get it out of her head. Shaking Alphinaud for daring to say anything about their childhood in front of the Warrior of Light, or teasing him for not swimming well, making him react in a way that said I’m alive, I’m well, I’m all right, assured her that her twin brother wasn’t dead.
Gods, never again. Never, ever again. The moment she saw Gaius carrying her lifeless twin, Alisaie decided that she needed to die first. It was selfish and maybe a little cruel, but she could not bear the pain of being unable to help her brother. Of seeing him essentially dead. She couldn’t. So she would shield her brother. Not only would she stand in harm’s way, she would challenge it head on, because if she got to it first, then it couldn’t hurt him. Alisaie would become strong enough to defeat anything that crossed her path, so that she could protect those she loved, especially her brother.
It was worth it to be called reckless and foolish if it meant that Alphinaud was safe. It was worth it to charge ahead, because when she looked behind her, there he was. Alisaie trusted him to watch her back. And if it was too much for him, the Warrior of Light was there to watch over them both.