Chapter Text
Ul’dah, Thanalan
The Quicksand
Rivi Night
Word spread quickly over night of the warrior clad in nothing but rags to her name taking on the eikon of fire itself and not only surviving but defeating it singlehandedly. The scions were overjoyed at the prospect of having someone to unite around as a powerhouse; it would open up so many doors for them after all. As for myself, the invitations, just like the game, came in before I could even settle down. The Immortal Flames, the Twin Adder, and the Maelstrom all were looking to receive me to their ranks.
I had already made my decision on the matter, but I was eager to speak with Alphinaud and Alisaie if possible and I knew they would be at each of the three different speeches to unite the people of Eorzea. Using that as an excuse I first found myself in Gridania looking to attend what should be a powerful and impactful speech.
It was funny that they tried to lay claim to a victory against the Garleans when it was in fact Midgardsomr who stopped their warship before it could do any real damage. Oh well, I wasn’t going to rain on their parade when they were trying to gather morale. The truth was that without everyday Eorzeans stepping up to the plate against the Garleans my confidence would falter and stopping van Baelzar would be the least of my worries. I mean Hydaelyn is ultimately the only reason that the warrior of light is able to fight the ultima weapon in the first place so now was not the time to get prideful.
Thankfully it did not take long for the two I was looking for to show their faces. For some reason despite the negative connotations, I have of Alphinaud from my memories there is something else telling me that he is a lot more than that and that he will become something more in the future. The fact that Cyriel existed, and she was already a good help in beating Ifrit only gives me more reason to befriend these two as quickly as possible.
“Greeting’s traveler, I feel as though we have met before.” Alphinaud said as he waved politely; Alisaie, preferring to stick to her own company.
“Ah yes, Alphinaud is it? We met on the carriage bound for Ul’dah I believe.” I greeted him with a smile.
“Hm, that is strange I do not recall introducing myself. Mayhaps you have heard of me elsewhere.” He questioned me.
“Ah yes, I met your sister Cyrielle in the Waking Sands in Eastern Thanalan. She was with the scions, and she told me of her two siblings that were travelling Eorzea. It was quite easy to make the assumption with the resemblance and I happen to believe that you exude more masculine energy than feminine so process of elimination and all that.” I explained knowing that I would have to explain why their wayward sister had found her way here without supervision.
“You met Cyrielle? Here? In Eorzea?” Alphinaud stuttered with a sudden loss of composure.
“What? Cyrielle is here? How?” Alisaie suddenly joined in on the conversation concerned.
“Uh, yes, she said that she made her way here via an aetheryte ticket and Thancred swiftly brought her to safety after her arrival. She believed it was luck that they stumbled upon each other, but it was pretty clear that your mother had everything planned out.” I said attempting to soothe any fears.
“Father will not be pleased to hear of this outcome, he was already perturbed by our own quest and now… I can only imagine a less than pleasant reunion fore we speak again.” Alphinaud uttered shivers running down his spine.
“Oh, forget all of that! Our sister has been here in Eorzea for who knows how long, and we didn’t know about it. What if something happened? What if…?” Alisaie started going ballistic as one does.
“Well, if it is any solace, I can safely say that the scions have not let her out of their eyes for the duration of her stay. Urianger seems to have taken her under his wing to teach her with every spare moment he has. So, it probably still feels like home if I had to guess.” Attempting a measured response of assurance, I hoped they wouldn’t worry too much.
“Yes, I guess you would be familiar with the situation given your escapades. Rumor has it that a new member of the scions, an adventurer, has slain Ifrit singlehandedly. The very thought boggles the mind and yet, the very warrior herself stands before me. Tell me miss…?”
“You can just call me Rivi.” I stated forwardly.
“Alright, Rivi, tell me. Are you prepared to face the ramifications of such a feat? Everyone has taken notice and it is not long before the enemy also joins the fray. My grandfather spoke of warriors of light that shone in the darkness, ones who were capable of rendering such evils helpless. In the face of danger, they shone like the moon and stars when everything seemed stacked against them. If you are capable of staying the power of eikons, expectations will surmount, especially given the increase of activity of deception.” Alphinaud stated seriously. He obviously took his grandfather’s legacy seriously and the scions were that legacy. If I was to become the champion of the scions than I would in a way leading his legacy to new heights.
“Yes, I would not have joined the scions if I didn’t want to do what it takes to help people. I will either fight in the name of true justice or die trying. At least, that is the hope. That is what I signed up for and that is what I will strive for every day.” Determined. Determined was the only way that I could describe it. I was doubted many times already in this life and I knew I would need to prove myself again and again but now all I cared about was fighting for the next day, leading on a new tomorrow.
Alphinaud nodded, seemingly calmed by my resolve.
“I feel as though Eorzea is on a new path, and it is one that none of us can perceive. If they are truly to strive for peace, they must be united and one day I hope to help that effort. It brightens my day to hear that someone still fights for the good of the star. I hope to speak with you again my friend.” Alphinaud parted with a reminder that the path that I walked was truly worth it. Alisaie looked as though she had wanted to say something as well, but she left it at that to leave with her brother.
It was not till several days later that I was able to finally have some rest and sometime to myself. I should have known that defeating an eikon would bring a lot of attention to myself, but it happened so quickly. At this rate, Alphinaud will be right. The ascians have already got their eyes on me and now I wouldn’t put it pass the Garleans to have heard of the rumors.
“Momodi can you please let anyone know who wishes to speak with me to hold any request till tomorrow.” I asked the guild receptionist nicely as I quickly drifted towards my seemingly only quiet place in this world.
“Will do Rivi, make sure to freshen up, I already have received multiple requests for your services. I already put a few letters of note in your room for you to look over in your spare time.” She replied in a like manner.
“Thanks, I will be sure to look at them.” I replied absentmindedly, not really paying any attention to what she said.
When I saw the bed, I did not think twice before falling face first from exhaustion upon the softness that would be my undying fortress until the next morning. For me, living as Rivi was a blessing every day not just because of how I looked on the outside but because of how it made me feel on the inside. Ever since that one nightmarish morning, I had found my confidence skyrocketing unlike anything I had felt before. I was now free to be who I wanted to be without the shackles of a predetermined role that I could never figure out. Purpose was what had made me happy, but it was also what had made me tired as all get out. I really wanted to take the time to explore Eorzea in all of its magnificence, but I had ill opportunity to do so with my training and guild request which now seemed to be coming in like crazy. I am now starting to wonder who the heck started advertising me like this to make me so popular so quickly.
(Sigh)… I guess I should take a look at these letters before I go to sleep. Hm, a few interesting requests for subjugation that seem to offer a decent pay. A morbal had been found in Gridania that the local guilds had been struggling with and they wanted my assistance. Hah, so they do miss me! Ah, here is one from Raubhan himself.
“Private Night, it pleases me to hear of your acceptance of our invitation to join the company of the immortal flames. We have heard much and more of the tales of your exploits if not to say more about your daring rescue of the Sultana and subsequence retrieval of the crown. I have seen the fire burning in your eyes, the strength to fight against any foe to stumble along your path and I see great potential in you. The days ahead are treacherous and those with unyielding fighting spirit are hard to come by, but I look forward to sharing a banner with you. Let Rhalgar strengthen us.”
Raubhan is so awesome, who wouldn’t want to run through a brick wall for that guy? When choosing a grand company my choice was pretty obviously going to be the immortal flames. Not only was that the grand company that I had in the game, but it also was the only group that had a true leader at the helm. I am sorry but the other two nations were just lacking in both firepower and willingness to make the hard decisions. It was truly incredible how a former pirate lacked guts when it came down to heart. And while a part of me wanted to become a white mage and learn from the best, I also instinctually began to avoid the Shroud because of the nagging feeling in the back of my head that I would meet someone that knew Rivi before I had awoken here. Don’t get me wrong, this body is mine and mine alone, I didn’t steal it from anyone. I designed her for goodness’s sake. But there was a reality out there that, unlike the game, I will find out just who exactly was the warrior of light before the seventh umbral calamity.
Ah, here is another interesting one. It’s not labelled but I would only assume that Momodi would have checked it before leaving it for me. I don’t think anyone would try anything yet, but I was cautious, nonetheless.
“Greetings Rivi, this is an anonymous letter for your eyes alone. I cannot give myself away until I know for certain the truth and so I must pose you a humble request. The Garlean threat is real but the gateway to the twelve is near, the answers to prayers made manifest, the dying gasps of a world made new. The remains of many a tragedy laid fallen, a land marked by heartfelt beginnings and restful endings. Seeketh the entrance and bare witness to a friend eager to learn of your journey.”
So, the note ended. I hate riddles! What in the world is this person talking about? I think it is clear at the very least that they are wanting to meet with me to speak about something important, but I hadn’t the faintest idea where they were talking about. It could be anywhere from Mor Dhona to Garlemald itself for the first line. The second line makes me wonder if it’s in the Shroud somewhere because that is where the shrine to the twelve is. The rest of it though didn’t mean anything to me. It would be like shooting a dart at a map. Not to mention they didn’t even tell me a time when to meet them. That’s incredibly unprofessional of them. All that work put into writing the poem and it was all for nothing.
(Sigh), I just need to get to bed, all of this nonsense is hurting my brain!
(Knock knock) I heard the annoying call of unwanted company. Can you all not leave me alone for one minute?
Getting up to my feet far too soon I reached for the doorway to open just a crack. I wasn’t fully dressed after all. Hopefully this was not something official because I was not in the mood.
“Um Rivi, I was hoping that I could speak with you for a moment?” A quiet but firm voice asked as I looked upon my unexpected guest.
“Oh, it’s you? Whatdya need?” I asked simply. It was the aura girl that had remained nameless since I met her. Not even Aewyn knew what her name was or where she came from. She seemed like the serious type, but she was efficient in her work. I’m surprised that she wanted to talk to me, however. She has not given any reason to me to imply she ever wanted to.
“I apologize if I am intruding but I just wanted to speak with you about … well… I guess I just wanted to learn more about a fellow warri… I mean adventurer. You see I was shocked to say the least when you took down Ifrit and well, it is strength like that which has inspired me to start my journey in the first place.” She admitted surprisingly shy. Now that she was not in her ninja-esk garb it was pretty clear that she was good looking, small in stature but wielding a strong punch laid beneath layers of muscle. She must have trained all of her life to get like that. It was nice though to see someone other than lalafells that was shorter than me. If I was 5’4” she was only about 5 feet. Her hair a shade of light pink was adorned with a braided ponytail bound together by a most exquisite flower.
“Oh, I guess I have some time then. I can always hide from all the craziness if I have to.” I said smiling.
“Thank you! I know it must be obnoxious to have all this attention all of a sudden, but I am sure you will get used to it. Anyway, my name is Zoe, Hoshino Zoe, and I am from Kugane.” And with that she finally introduced herself. Took a minute but we’re finally taking down barriers.
“Nice to meet you officially Zoe. Come on in and we can talk for a bit.” I said while gesturing to the only furniture in the room which happened to be the bed.
Once Zoe opened up to me, I was able to learn that she was actually a quite nice girl who really just wanted to protect the ones that she loved. Unlike me it seemed like she wasn’t just adventuring for her own gain but rather as a means to become stronger and eventually take the battle to the Garleans.
“You see, I am actually from Doma. Me and my family have served the king for generations and now we have been forced from our home by the Garleans. I am not the only one that has escaped here looking for answers but unlike some I am not looking for handouts. So, I took it upon myself to become a viable resource for the people of Eorzea. Knowing that Doma cannot win this fight against Garlemald by itself I knew that we would one day need the aid of allies and what greater allies than the ones leading the charge against their occupations.” She admitted with distain evident in her voice. It was something that I remembered from playing the game that doman refugees were seeking asylum in Ul’dah, but this is not Yugiri so perhaps the story will change a bit. Or better yet because this world is not hindered by the small limits of a game, I can meet more people than before which can give me greater perspective.
“I have thankfully not engaged with Garleans as of yet, but I am aware of the far-reaching ramifications of their war and how it has ruined the lives of many. I cannot say for certain, but I feel like things are heating up and other nations are going to have to decide which side they are on. This is not something that they can stand idly by waiting for one side to tip the scale leaving the balance in power in chaos. Eorzea is a place that celebrates magic and the power of the twelve, Garlemald is anti-god and they lack the capacity for magics altogether. The problem with Garlemald isn’t their motives it’s their methods.” I said almost thinking aloud to myself.
“You think their cause a righteous one?!” Zoe questioned with sudden confusion.
“No, it is not, but I do believe that they think it is. They believe that by bringing the world under one banner with no interference from magics and gods the world will be a better and more peaceful place. As much as I would like to say otherwise, humanity is not inherently good. They make bad decisions, they are selfish, they are driven by sinful desires. Which is why there can never be a united utopia, such as they desire, it is simply not possible with mortal flesh and it is definitely not possible under the banner of oppression. However, I agree in their cause to destroy primals like Ifrit because they are not gods but demons whose only mission is to steal from the people they supposedly protect.” I explained to the best of my ability as I knew the difference between a demon and a divine being. A god would look after their followers, going above and beyond for the sake of protecting those who worship them. A demon would cast aside their followers for the sake of their own gain as quickly as the thought occurred to them that they don’t need them anymore.
“I see what you mean… I do not believe in gods myself as many Eorzeans and my people do. I have seen enough over my lifetime to know that there are no gods in this world. Some say that Hydaelyn, the mothercrystal, is a goddess herself but I do not see her as such. If the rumors are to be believed, she, just like the primals, plays favorites leaving the rest of humanity to suffer. A god that behaves as man does is not a god at all. You don’t know how many times I have rolled my eyes when one of my friends or acquaintances would randomly thank the kami not even thinking about who they are even thanking. Who even is the kami anyway?” Zoe seemed to feel strongly about the subject as well which was a good thing because I got the feeling that I would be fighting so called gods for the foreseeable future.
“I am hoping Eorzea will strike common ground with the Garleans eventually, but I do not believe that day will come until they recover from their singlemindedness. One cannot hope to strive for peace by ignoring the opinions and plights of others.” It was true, as long as the Ascians festered behind the scenes Garlemald would be in a constant state of war because they thought it necessary. The emperor is going to have to decide if he is the leader of his nation or if the ascians are.
“So, it sounds like you are resolved to be more than just an adventurer. What are your plans for the future?” She asked me interested. I wanted to keep my secrets close to the chest, but I was willing to entertain the idea of extra help should the need arise. Having someone like Zoe who seems to have similar ideals and motives as I do might be helpful in a battle against Garlemald.
“Well since defeating Ifrit, it has become clear that things have become chaotic to say the least. I probably could get any quest that I wanted from the guild but honestly, I suspect that our adversaries have already noticed the defeat of a primal. As of right now they could see that as a good or bad thing because most Garleans want them dead to. However, they could also find the existence of that kind of strength as a threat.” I admitted my concerns. Despite beating Ifrit I most certainly felt like it was just as much luck and the benefit of Hydaelyn’s blessing then my actual ability and I was still lacking in a lot of key areas if I wanted to fight against Garlemald.
“Well, when the leaders of nations and armies struggle to change the tide of wars it’s up to people like us, adventurers to stand up. When the chance arrives, don’t forget about our party. When we fight together, we can cover up our weaknesses and enhance our strengths.” Zoe emphasized with passion. It is definitely something that I will have to keep in mind in the future because I would not have gotten this far without the Scion’s aid and the guild.
“Yep. Well, let me know if you need anything and I will be sure to meet up with the rest of the party soon. I just need to rest up for a while. Be sure to get some rest as well I can see this getting out of hand for you as well.”
“Will do, good night Rivi!”
“And… silence…finally.” Ul’dah was not exactly the best place to stay to get some peace and quiet, but it was where I was now, and my eyelids were already closing too quickly to change my mind now.