As I took my leave of Camp Dragonhead, I kissed Haurchefant upon his lips and began to teleport. As I arrived in Limsa Lominsa I smiled quickly at the surroundings.
"Beautiful as always."
Walking through the lower deck, I made my way towards the Admirals office. Her guard greeted me in his normal fashion.
"What business do you have with the Admiral?"
"She's expecting me, tell her Eidolon has arrived."
As he sent word through his linkpearl, he looked back to me and nodded as he walked aside. Making my way to her office, I peered in to see her looking out through her window as the sun shined from the glimmering sea below.
"How is he?"
"Raubahn will live, though his pride as a fighter bids him vengeance upon Ilberd ultimately."
"And what of Your pride?"
I thought to myself quietly as I walked past her first mate and stood next to her, looking out to the sea as she.
"I am not sure weather I wish to destroy him... or pity him. The man destroyed my mother and father, tortured me, his best friend, all for coin and the means to fuel his way of helping his resistance. Where his methods were drastic, can I truly believe myself different?"
The Admiral looked over at me with no doubt in her mind as she placed a hand upon my shoulder.
"You Are different. Despite the hardships you have endured, the horrors you have been put through, here you stand setting the next stage of action for the better of others rather then yourself."
I looked on again to the sea. My mind still wandering as I glanced up at her and smiled.
"Gridania and Limsa Lominsa stand by my side. Now all that remains is getting Ul'dah under control, and we will have Ilberd cornered."
"Both our city guardsmen have been informed to not comply with Crystal Brave orders and their marshal status has been removed from the cities and the grand companies. Ul'dah on the other hand from my sources, has stopped funding them completely. With that they may still have status within the city. However due to their deal taking a turn for the worse, the plotters within are not helping them any longer."
"Yet they still supply them the agreed gil of funding?"
"Of course, the Braves are now being paid tribute for keeping their mouths shut upon the situation with the Sultana. Not to mention with Raubahn out of his position as General, the Flames and Brass Blades have no other choice but to work with several of Ilberds Braves. Despite ill word being silenced, many are beginning to wonder of their Sultana and violence is showing at an alarming rate between the refugees and the poor."
"You believe her to still be alive do you not?"
"If she is, then we have a chance of avoiding horrific blood shed. If she is however dead... Ul'dah will be taken one way or another."
"That is just what the Garleans want of us right now, to fight amongst ourselves."
She looked back to me as she noticed how sure I was by the tone of my voice.
"The new Emperor, you Know him, you've even met him haven't you?!"
I bit my lip as I recalled back to the days of my childhood.
"We met often when I was a child. His ideals, his hatred towards Eikons and Eorzea astounded me. He only hated what he could not control. Now, he seeks to control it by what ever means he can."
"You met often? Why?"
"He was interested in Midas Garlonds work with me. He wanted me to be his weapon. Funding Midas for every little thing he could."
I thought to myself again as I recalled Ivan Van Foss.
"Their was a suit Midas designed for me long ago. It was designed to Enhance aetherial energy users such as myself. The funding came directly from Varis and when the Emperor at the time disagreed with it, he had it sealed away. Weeks ago I fought a man whom wore a suit of similar context but he was a Garlean born male. Much of the suit seemed to be adapted to magitek weaponry. None the less it was the same technology and the suit enhanced his body."
"Is he a threat still?"
"It is not entirely impossible. Though I did defeat him, it came at a personal cost to me."
"What might that be?"
"The knowledge I am not as everyone else, and despite my attempts to "fit in" it was for naught as I will always be what I am."
"Do you consider yourself a monster as many claim your kind to be?"
I shook my head as I smiled a bit gazing upon her.
"No. I see myself as what should be. Perhaps we were meant for more then this. Perhaps ... in a different time, even the Eikons were once meant to be more then just monstrous gods summoned by their followers."
She looked to me and I could see an interest in my words as she looked back to the sea.
"What ever you may be, you are capable of keeping hope in tact for Eorzea."
I looked to her rather enticed by her words.
"Their is one other matter I have to attend to. The heart of Sabik. If Ilberd is looking as much as possible, it is not likely he is the only one. It is time to destroy it by any means possible."
"How so? If You get anywhere near the item while it is out in the open you will be crippled."
I grasped the red blade upon my back and gently turned around, placing it upon her desk.
"This, is Balmung. An ancient Allag weapon which was once sealed away only to find it's way out in the world once more. How it ended up in my hands, even I could not say but a weapon of Allag should be strong enough to destroy the heart once and for all. They were after all the ones whom put the creature down long ago."
"Tis not enough. Much of the Allag technology is powered by Eikon aether."
I thought for a moment gazing upon the blade as I pondered.
"The creature Sabik was a voidsent was it not?"
"Or something rather close to it so the legend goes."
"What if we powered the blade with dark aether? If it has no power it can gain from, it will likely not be able to absorb it. Any protection it might have will be eliminated."
"Where would we even be Able to get dark aether?"
"What of the Crystal Tower their was a portal created by the Allag some years ago. Could we not harness it?"
"Getting in would be an issue. The place has been sealed."
"I have a key for Allag constructs."
"But not the blood of pure Allags. The doors would remain shut. Not to meantion Cids instructions were to leave it be."
"Perhaps I can scale the building myself."
"Unless you have wings I should suspect not."
I smiled a bit as shadows poured from my back and extended a bit, showing off to my discredit.
"You would still require a way to open the portal again. Need I suggest further, opening the portal to the world of darkness would be very dangerous."
"I might have a way in.... IF she is willing. Safe guarding the world however might be another issue entirely."
"Perhaps we can avoid it if the portal is sealed behind you. That would however inquire a way for you to get out."
I nodded to her as I grasped the blade and began to leave. Stopping short of the door I glanced back to her and smiled.
"I will be in touch very soon."
She nodded as I walked out the door and headed down the stairway. Touching my linkpearl within my ear I began to speak into it.
"Cid can you hear me?"
"Eidolon?.... EIDOLON?! Is that Really you?!"
"It is.... Cid I need a favor... and I do not think you will like it ... at all."
******
After a long chat with Cid I finally finished and made my way up to the Drowning Wench. As I sat down at the bar I looked around and took a deep breath as I thought of my next move. Beside me a hyur man with an eye patch over his left eye sat down motioning to Baderon for a drink. Gazing at me he looked me up and down as Baderon put his drink down before him.
"Mmmm, now That's a fine piece of arse I'd like to get to know better."
Attempting to ignore him, I began to turn away as I opened a book. His glass slid to my side as he got close to my back and began to speak aloud.
"Here you go, on me, careful though, it's the good stuff, not that half dirt shite Baderon gives the rest of his patrons."
I glanced at the drink and pushed it back towards him, getting up from my seat.
"I do not drink, sorry."
He looked at me confused for a moment as I headed towards the inn room.
"Wait wait! Bahhh, I was just interested, come on lass why not sit down and share some tales?"
"I am not sure I have the time for-"
I stopped and thought for a moment as I looked him up and down. His gear seemed to match that of a sell sword. One of which was not in the favor of Ilberd at that.
"Alright, I will indulge you a bit. However, I must leave in a few hours."
He smiled and motioned to a table in the corner to sit. I followed him as he lead the way.
"Names, Vance, Vance Knight."
"Knight for a last name? Is that real or fake?"
"That's for me to know and you to figure out."
"Oh this will be an interesting chat."
TOC
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/character/2469857/blog/2726620/
