The sudden appearance of Nero Tol Scaeva had spun the mission of opening the Crystal Tower out of control, only bringing with it more questions than answers. He began to explain himself and his plan with the aforementioned white auracite, and Cid was already tired of listening to the guy who tried to kill him a year prior to where they were now. However, he couldn't doubt that Nero had promise where it mattered, so as much as it pained him to do so, Cid kept his mouth shut and let Nero elaborate on his previous proposition.
"As you may know, the properties of white auracite allow one to trap the very Aether from a concentrated point into its shell. This point of origin could be from one's soul such as a living person, or from a specific area outside of its own bounds. If you lot haven't caught on yet, I plan to use a surplus of white auracite to capture the Aether extracted by the AEC and get you all into the tower..."
Nero spoke as he raised a finger to show he wasn't finished yet. Cid took some time to think about what he said, picking apart his offer piece by piece and finding a hole in his plan. Garlond Ironworks had orders to enter the Crystal Tower and find out what's inside, nothing more and nothing less. But something didn't seem quite right about Nero's "ultimatum". He wasn't a member of Garlond Ironworks, and sure as hell wasn't contracted by some outside source to assist in the excavation. So why did he seem so keen all of a sudden to open the Towers gates? Luckily for him, Cid would get his answer soon enough.
"...On one condition. When we enter that tower, any and all pieces of Allagan technology that you and your excavator cronies find will belong to me when you exit. There are things in there that eons old, some even older! Giving up a chance like this to outmatch Garlond would be on the cusp of madness, wouldn't you agree?"
Nero shot Cid a grin that he knew all too well, responding with a cross of his arms and a verbal grimace. For as much as he's done to torment him and his own, Cid couldn't bring himself to fully hate Nero. He wondered if it was the fact that they grew up in a Garlean academy together, or if it was because him and Nero shared the same interest in technology and the workings of what could very well be the future of Eorzea. Cid didn't know what it was himself, and personally, couldn't care less as to what the answer was. He groaned and kept his gaze on his old rival, raising a brow with doubt plastering itself on his features.
"And how exactly do you plan on finding this white auracite? It's not exactly an Eorzean commodity, Nero. I thought you knew better."
That's when G'raha Tia spoke up.
"Why ask him when you can ask me?"
The Miqo'te flashed a smile at the Garlean, pushing some hair out of his face to reveal his left sanguine eye. The same exact colored eye Admes had.
"My father once told me that the last traces of Allagan blood flows through this eye, and if that tower holds answers to what exactly could be behind it, then I'll find them. We all have our reasons for going inside, and I'll make sure we all get what we're looking for."
"G'raha, you don't have to take up arms at every mention of a potential answer you know."
"I know. But I wouldn't be G'raha Tia if I didn't, now would I Cid?"
Cid chuckled and shook his head before looking back at the tower glistening above them, his gaze being joined by everyone else around him.
"I guess you're right. We don't know what's in there, but whatever it is, It's got a big storm coming."
12th Sun
Second Astral Moon
5:45 PM
Ishgard
It didn't take long for Eniro to surmise exactly what his life had become in the span of 2 hours. Just like that, he was given an opportunity to show all of Ishgard that he wasn't as horrible as he was made out to be. That behind the senseless killings and the cold demeanor of N was a man who simply wanted to be a person again. Not someone following the laws of a corrupt code or doing things out of necessity that could well get him in the nearest gaol. As much as he disliked being spoken for by someone he met just 2 hours ago, Eniro thought it best to keep his mouth shut for the now. It was the safest way he could go about gaining the trust of the formerly praised Scions Of The Seventh Dawn, while also maintaining his N moniker without drawing too much attention outside of the people who already knew who he was. Which, thankfully enough, wasn't many.
"And here I thought you would've run away with your tail between your legs. What's keeping you, rogue?"
As much as Eniro would rather spend his time thinking rather than talking, it seemed certain things couldn't be helped in the face of change. From behind the Lalafell came Stryker, who exited House Fortemps upon being informed of the group's planned foray into Falcons Nest. The potential danger of running into dragons along with the fact that none of them knew what they were getting themselves into excited the Monk a lot more than it should have, and to Eniro's plight, this meant he'd start talking and wouldn't shut up for a while.
"A chance like this is all I've got now. Running away wouldn't do me any good."
"Not like anything good will come out of it."
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
Stryker took a seat beside Eniro on the stairs leading to the front door, turning his head to face the shorter male with his arms resting on his knees and a shit eating grin on his face. Eniro didn't look too happy at what Stryker said, and that's exactly what he wanted.
"Unlike my brother, I can see you for who you really are. You say you want to change, but do you really expect this to go anywhere? You'll just end up back in Ishgard's slums with more blood on your hands, and we'll be right back where we started."
The monk surmised to Eniro's distaste, his words pricking the ears of the Lalafell and causing him to grimace towards the hyur beside him.
"Don't talk like you know me. Just stay out of my way and we'll get along just fine."
"Is that advice or is that a threat?"
"I'll make it a threat if you don't shut the hell up."
The boy furrowed his eyebrows with malic in his gaze, this only serving to give Stryker a good laugh before he stood to his feet.
"Don't push your luck. If it weren't for Cyprus, you'd be asleep somewhere behind a dumpster. Fittingly enough, it's where people like you belong. Murderer."
Stryker simply rolled his eyes and groaned in annoyance, not having a care in the world about Eniro's supposed "threat." At his current level, Eniro was nothing but dirt underneath Stryker's foot, so the monk wasn't intimidated in the slightest.
"Whatever you say."
He then turned his gaze away from the rogue and walked off into Ishgard, leaving House Fortemps and finally giving Eniro time to think.
"Hmph...."
His left hand tightened around something in his pocket. He looked down for a moment and closed his eyes in reflection, a certain figure appearing over and over again in his mind.
"Cordelia...I wonder where you are now.."
What he had in his hand was a pink locket with an image inside, this image showing Eniro sharing a hug with an Au Ri girl wearing that of a Red Mage's outfit and black blindfold over her eyes. Who she was was a story only Eniro had to know, but where she was now was something he still desperately wanted to find out. However, he couldn't dwell on the fact she was gone, as he now had a job to do and a new goal in mind.
Now began his last chance for redemption. Eniro's last chance to finally become himself again.
12th Sun
Second Astral Moon
6:00 PM
Gridania
In the span of one week, life changed forever for what used to be the Scions Of The Seventh Dawn.
Yda, Papalymo, Minfilia, and Urianger all went missing in the midst of Ul'dah's fall, and this caused an unkempt fire of intrigue to spark in the heart of one Y'shtola Rhul. She and Thancred escaped Thanalan and had settled down in the Twelveswood, trying their best to be as discreet as possible and keep a low profile in Gridania. The Miqo'te Conjurer insisted that herself and Thancred work together to find their friends once this all blew over, and she even appointed a close ally of the Scions to assist them in this endeavor. That ally was none other than Krile Mayer Baldesion, A Sharlayan envoy and friend of Minfilia's who was the only person Y'shtola could trust with the task of tracking down the lost Scions. Although Thancred was their main source of reconnaissance, Krile was always 10 steps ahead of the rogue, and those 10 steps would be just one of the many factors that Y'shtola needed to rely on if the Scions were to ever reunite.
Standing outside the amphitheater in the middle of Old Gridania was Y'shtola herself, a brown cloak over her head and a newly built staff given to her by Krile on her back. She stood there in silence, watching as children and adults alike froliced among the amphitheater without a care in the world. That happiness, that undying joy...It was what she had once felt. Something she hadn't felt since the Scions fell apart.
"Are you going to keep moping or are we gonna get somewhere?"
A familiar voice asked her from behind. Turning her head to face the owner of said voice, it turned out to be Thancred who was walking alongside Krile in search of Y'shtola. They both noticed easily how much the fall of the Scions changed her, but Thancred thought it best to leave her to her thoughts for now.
"Who said I was moping?"
The conjurer smiled and turned to face her rogue friend.
"If spending my time thinking about the events of last week counts as moping, then I'm sure you two have been moping this whole time as well."
"Well, there's not much we can do but think. At least, not until you start moving."
Thancred shrugged and shook his head jokingly, the interaction between himself and Y'shtola causing Krile to giggle. Even at a time like this, seeing these two at least getting along well made her happy.
"It seems some things never change with the senior members of the Scions, hmm?"
The Lalafellin girl crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at Y'shtola with a soft smile.
"I was able to find a lead on Urianger while traveling here from Dravania. However, I'm not too sure it'd be safe to talk about it here. Especially with all this commotion going on about Kan-E-Senna disappearing, there's not alot in Gridania that goes unheard nowadays..."
Thancred and Y'shtola took a look around Gridania after hearing what Krile had to say, seeing residents gossiping and whispering outside of the amphitheater about recent events. It seemed to them that Krile was right.
"Well, I suppose you have the right of it. Let us be off, then."
Thancred led Y'shtola and Krile off to the inn in New Gridania where they would discuss the supposed whereabouts of Urianger. At the very least, things were looking up for them. All they needed was to find the Scions, then find Daryia.
12th Sun
Second Astral Moon
6:24 PM
The Umbral Isles
"It's been 3 days since we started this pointless charade, And you're still this persistent? Why do you defend the location of the tower so? It's USELESS to the Alliance!"
Another slug across the face put a third bruise on Kan-E-Senna, but she still wouldn't give up. She still wouldn't betray everyone by letting this man know where the tower was. Admes was right on the fact that the Eorzean Alliance weren't too worried about the remnants of the Crystal Tower, but knowing that a man like Admes was out to find it, and considering all he had done to take Kan-E-Senna prisoner up to this point, she wouldn't dare think of what he could do with the power of the Allagan Empire in his hands. So, she wouldn't let him have it, no matter how much more pain she had to endure.
"No...No matter how little we may rely on the secrets of ancient Allag, I refuse to put everybody i care about in danger by granting you access to its pow-"
The woman's words were replaced with a yelp of pain as a dagger was stabbed straight into her knee. Admes was sick and tired of her excuses, and wouldn't mind killing Kan-E-Senna here and now if it meant finding the Crystal Tower. However, it didn't, so he had to keep this up.
"AAAAH! ACK-AAAAHHHH!"
She grit her teeth and screamed out in pain as Admes twisted the knife where it was in her leg, anger and fire appearing in his eyes.
"Look at you. Groveling at my feet, soon to be begging for mercy from this pain. You're nothing, Elder Seedseer. You've never been anything. All you are is a glorified priestess who got lucky enough to be chosen by the idiots of the Twelveswood as their leader. If you truly wish to defend Eorzea and bring about its salvation, I'm sure that staying alive would be in your best interest."
"I will not submit to you!"
"...Hmph. Persistent worm."
Admes grabbed his rifle from his bag and hit Kan-E-Senna right in her temple, knocking the Elder Seedseer out and groaning in annoyance.
"Jeez...."
He then put a hand to his ear and activated his Linkpearl.
"Alenka. Whatever pace you're moving at, pick it up. She still hasn't budged, And to be frank, we don't have much time..."
That's when he paused and gave a slight smirk.
"But it's not like time is against us, now is it?"