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The bright, bustling noises of the Firmament filled Vivio’s senses completely. The sounds of people milling about and chatting, a cheery tune being played from the performance area in the center of the area by a local bard, and lots and lots of loud bangs and clangs from the craftsmen gathered there to assist in restoring the dilapidated city to its former glory. That last one was maybe a bit too loud for her liking, actually. She ignored it, though, to focus on talking to the short miqote crafting in front of her. He hunched over a leatherworker’s table, brow furrowing to concentrate on the rapid changes to the material he worked.
“So you’re saying you don’t fight all that much and just sit here and…you craft?”
“Mmm yeah. I do know how to fight, I just don’t when I can help it. It’s exhausting,” Ind’hii nodded.
Vivio tilted her head and snickered. “Yeah, I hear you there. What school of fighting do you belong to then when you do fight? You have the same build as my friend G’raha Tia, so I’m guessing…black mage? White mage? It’s gotta be some kind of mage, right?”
Ind’hii finished the cut he was on and set his tools to the side, a snide grin on his face.
“One: Rah- G’raha Tia just so happens to be my boyfriend – I know very well what his…build is. I’m surprised this is the first time I’ve heard that you two know each other. Two: not even close! I’ve got a spare of my weapon if you want to try it out.” Saying this, he reached into a bag next to him and pulled out a gun. He held it out to Vivio and placed it gently on her lap. “Safety’s on so you don’t have to worry ‘bout that.”
Vivio’s eyes went wide as she picked the weapon up. “I’ve seen these! That asshole Emet-Selch had one and I’ve seen some of the Ishgardians use ‘em too! Can you teach me how to use it?”
Ind’hii’s ears went back against his head at the mention of Emet-Selch and a flash of confusion crossed his face before he schooled it back to a more neutral expression. He pushed his leatherworking table away properly and shifted so he was sitting properly next to Vivio.
“Here’s the safety lock, the barrel, the trigger, and here’s how you place your hands.” He trailed his finger along the gun at each point of interest, finally wrapping his small hands around her much larger ones to place them properly. Once she was holding the flintlock correctly, a mischievous glitter shone in her eyes. She moved so she sat on her knees and leaned forward excitedly.
“Say-! How bout you teach me how to use this for real and I’ll teach you about the thrill of a lifetime?”
Ind’hii’s ears twitched and he tilted his head, looking over the rim of his glasses at her. “What kind of thrill do you mean?”
“How do you feel about risking your life for big rewards?”
“Big rewards? …..I’m listening.”
“Okay, so, you know that labyrinth under Quarrymill? It actually has a name – the locals call it The Palace of the Dead. It’s creepy as fuck and I’ve been all the way through it. Aside from the time I got the courage to finally ask my girlfriend out, reaching the very end of The Palace is the biggest thrill I’ve had in my life. At the VERY least I want to get you to the halfway point. If you don’t feel safe though, we can turn back at any time and put this whole conversation behind us.”
Ind’hii considered the proposal in silence for a long moment before nodding. “I’ve actually been wanting to try and see what’s at the end of it myself, I just never really had the courage to. Sure, let’s go. If my fur or clothes get singed though, you’re totally making me whatever I need to make up for it.”
Vivio beamed. “I promise I’ll keep you safe! Well, as safe as you can be in the realm of the dead. On the bright side, if we die, we won’t have to go anywhere. Shouldn’t happen though if you follow instructions. I’ll walk you through everything you need to know when we enter.”
She stood up and brushed off her pants, cracking her knuckles and rolling her shoulders. She held out a hand to Ind’hii to help him up, looking him in the eyes. “Meet me in Quarrymill in ten minutes. Bring potions and courage, scaredy cat.” At that, her feet lifted off the ground as purple tendrils of aether writhed around her for a moment before she blinked out of existence.
Ind’hii was in trouble, wasn’t he?
Once in Quarrymill, Ind’hii perched on some bridge railing to wait. Is this why there’s always so many people here? Hopefuls with a death wish and a lust for treasure and glory? he wondered to himself. Looking around, he took note of adventurers that were both in groups of four and talking to each other quietly, and people by themselves who seemed to be checking supplies and mentally preparing themselves. By the gate of the sanctuary, he saw people carrying wrapped up corpses in from what he assumed were failed ventures into the hellish labyrinth. A shiver went down his spine at the thought of never coming back. He didn’t have time to write Raha and tell him what was going on and now he wished he had. Vivio had seemed so confident at the time, and he had gotten caught up in the excitement as well. It’ll be fiiiine. She knows what she’s doing. A shadow looming over him and a hand lightly stroking his left ear broke him out of his torrent of thoughts.
“It’s time, Ind’hii. I sincerely hope you are prepared and trust me. I’ll do my upmost to keep you safe.”
Vivio stood over him, back straighter and shoulders wide. She wore an intensely serious expression and spoke with an even tone that belied her experience in what they were about to do. Ah, not confidence. Experience. She’s seen some stuff.
He nodded slowly and hopped off of the bridge post. “Yeah, let’s do this.”
Vivio’s lips quirked upwards in a shaky smile before rubbing his head gently, moving down to loop her arm around his shoulder, as if to cage him from the dangers they were about to face. She guided him over to a Wood Wailer, who craned his neck upwards to look at her.
“Good evenin’ Captain Brookshield. You want me to match you up with some ‘a the other ‘venturers for today, or do you already know who you want with you?”
Vivio nodded and jerked her chin towards the small miqote under her arm. “It’s just going to be me and Ind’hii Lihzeh today, sir. He’s never ventured in, and I want to learn how to be a machinist. Fairly even playing grounds, I’d say.”
The Wood Wailer snorted. “If you say so, Miss. The entrance is open, and I’ve got your name down so you’re free to go. Try and come back with your catboy in one piece, alright?”
Vivio cackled. “I’ll bring him back in as many pieces as I like! Which, luckily for you, is one!”
Ind’hii gulped and clutched at his bag nervously as she led him away from the sentry and towards the entrance of the infamous Palace of the Dead. The entrance to it was dark and upon stepping over the threshold to what he could only assume was the first room.
Vivio shuddered as she felt the familiar-yet-strange feeling of The Palace sucking out her strength and muddling the memories of all she had learned. Looking at the blood red flintlock in her hands, she wagered that all she could do for now was a simple bullet. She chanced a glimpse over to the miqote next to her to gauge his reaction. His eyebrows were furrowed together and his tail lashed from side to side as he studied the shining white gun in his own hands. He seemed distressed as he looked up to her.
“I don’t have the best memory, but I know I know more than just pulling the trigger on this thing point-blank. What’s going on?!”
Vivio quickly made a soothing gesture in an attempt to comfort him. Before she could speak, however, a small squeak! rang out in the stone room. Whipping her head around, she noticed a small palace mouse. Harmless for the most part and an easy target. She gently placed a hand on the small man's shoulder and pointed at the mouse.
“First thing’s first, okay? I promised you I'd take care of you and teach you what you needed to know and I fully intend to follow through on that. So, about the memory thing. The Palace has this weird effect where it saps your strength and forces you to forget all that you know until you earn it back through combat. It's not a lot, and most of it will come back to you naturally as we go deeper. When we exit this hellhole, you'll be back to normal – so no worries there. Kill that mouse over there and you'll see what I mean.”
Ind’hii nodded and aimed at the tiny mouse. The sight brought a quick smile to Vivio’s face, so she turned her head slightly away to choke out a laugh.
The cat got the mouse, ha!
She schooled her face back into seriousness after she heard the bang of the gun and felt a surge of strength arise in her. Nodding sagely, she patted Ind’hii’s back – perhaps a bit too hard as it sent him stumbling forward a few steps.
“Great job Scaredy Cat! See? We’re stronger already. Next, I'm gonna find us some pomanders and maybe some aether armor for you. Try not to step in the middle of the room, yeah? Don't want you stepping on a landmine.”
Ind’hii blanched, his grey skin going even more ashy. “Landmine?! There are landmines here?”
Vivio barked out a loud laugh. “Oh, there's MUCH worse than landmine runes here. In fact…” she trailed off, spotting a bronze treasure coffer in a nearby room. She jerked her head towards it, and after dispatching a few enemies nearby she motioned to the chest. “Open it,” she instructed. Ind'hii eyed her with suspicion, albeit warranted suspicion.
Regardless, he did as she instructed and went to open the unassuming chest. The moment his fingertips brushed the lid, a sickening CRACK rang out as the chest itself split in twain and revealed a massive maw. It wasted no time in launching itself towards the poor adventurer, biting down on his hand.
“Oh SHITE, help me! What the hells is this?!” he yelped in distress, smacking it with his gun. The monster dislodged itself from Ind’hii’s hand after a few solid hits, but immediately set its sights on Vivio.
“Well I don't know if ‘shite’ is the right word, but I’m feeling a solid SHIT!” Vivio took aim and shot the monster in its mouth, breaking something within and leaving the writhing box limp. “Anyways,” she continued after collecting herself, “that is a mimic. They look like treasure and sometimes you can salvage treasure from ‘em. Dangerous little bastards, though. They can infect you.”
Ind’hii shifted his eyes to the limp mimic, and noticed a golden glint. He assumed it was another treasure chest, but he chose to look back at his guide for advice. She looked briefly confused before following his line of sight, her mouth forming a small “O”.
“Let me get that one, Scaredy Cat.” Ind’hii nodded sharply once, before stepping back and pushing his glasses back into place from when they had gone askew via panicked mimic attack. Luckily this chest did not split open, nor did it attack. Instead, it quietly opened to reveal a fist-sized ball decorated with ornate colors and patterns sitting atop some velvet. The ball mostly looked blue with a gray lattice design. Vivio picked it up and placed it in his hands.
“This is a pomander – a ball that usually holds herbs and perfume and stuff to fend off bad luck and sickness. Here though it’s filled with aether stuff and you smash it on the ground. The one I just handed you is called a Pomander of Steel. Go ahead and break it on the ground.”
Ind’hii looked puzzled at the explanation for several long moments before shrugging and lobbing the ball at the stone floor. The second it, a blue mist enveloped him and he felt his muscles tighten and his body become more sturdy. Vivio studied his reaction, seeming pleased, but no less alert than she had been. She checked over her gun and Ind’hii’s well-being once more before moving deeper in to the labyrinth.
The two machinists continued in this fashion for 9 more floors, with Vivio explaining details and the oddities surrounding The Palace of the Dead and Ind’hii listening as adamantly as he could. They made idle chatter as they shot down waves of enemies, from topics such as past adventures to their common love of the Scion G’raha Tia. As they were transported to the 10th floor, they were greeted with a buffet of wind and a loud screech. Ind’hii stiffened from ear tips to tail. Vivio simply rolled her shoulders back and did a few stretches, obviously at ease.
“This bird fuck is a major pushover and mainly sounds scary more than anything else. I'm going to grab its attention and kite it around the edge of this room. All you have to do is shoot and not die, okay?”
“Alright. I trust you.”
With that, the two began their assault on the bird. As Vivio said, though, it was a complete pushover and it fell to the ground defeated in merely a few minutes. The realization of their victory set in, and Ind’hii let a broad grin break across his face. He ran forward and leapt into a startled Vivio’s arms. His ears flicked happily and his tail curled gently around her leg.
“We made it! That was incrrrrredible! It wasn't nearrrrrly as bad as I thought it would be. Thank you forrrr showing me this and helping me.”
Vivio let go of the miqote in her arms with one hand to ruffle his purple hair and chuckled. “It’s not a problem, my little Scaredy moon cat. You did fantastic and I'm incredibly proud of you.” She gently set him down and guided them both to an aetherport exit.
The sun bathed the two as they arrived back in Quarrymill. They had made it out alive, and perhaps a bit braver. Vivio kneeled down to give Ind’hii one last hug and whispered into his ear with a lopsided grin.
“Let’s uh…let's not tell Raha we went on an adventure without him, ok? He might get mad he was left out.”
Ind’hii coughed out a laugh and agreed.