(Background songs in {} are being played from Xanders phone and are from FFXIV itself they are first Endwalker - Footfalls by Masayoshi Soken and THE PRIMALS and second is ShadowBringers - To The Edge by Masayoshi Soken)
{Heart of ember, autumntide
Cooling swiftly, bleeding light
Smold'ring softly, biding time}
Walking through another village, we got some provisions for our merry band of marked monsters. We also let any brave enough kid play with Zendaya or Valentine, given they kept fidgeting. While collecting food and water for us all to use, one of the merchants, a Hyur, asked something.
"You have some interesting pets, a rare black Chocobo and a Behemoth. Would you be interested in selling both or even just one to me?"
Looking at him, I signed something, and he scoffed at me, smiling, but his eyes showed his real intentions.
"Come now, no need for such vulgar words and flowery fake words regarding them. Just name your price, or we'll have to talk about things in PRIVATE."
Sweeping his feet from under him, my left foot meets his chest violently in a kick. Slamming him into the ground with a cracking pop, his eyes widening in pain. Reeling my leg back as I walked up to his downed figure, I kicked him in the ribs once more. Feeling a satisfying cracking of a few ribs trying to break. The people watching us made no motion to interfere with our business. Signing once more, I raised an eyebrow at the merchant.
"Y-you dare deny the Syndicate like this?"
Raising my foot, I smiled sweetly down at him as my lower face mask fell, his skin paling. Slamming it down, I stomped his head in, a little blood splashing around as I raised my foot. Looking at the bleeding merchant, I sign once more, and he actually growls at me. Stomping back down onto his face, I grind my boot into it until he's suffocated into unconsciousness. Pulling my foot away, I crouched beside him, then pressed certain points on his body that can affect memories.
{Marching forward, left behind
Fire as shadows clash
Forgotten footfalls engraved in ash
Fire will be repaid
'Fore our echoes begin to fade
Fade away... Fade away…}
Standing back up, I waved to the girls, and we set out after I kicked the merchant in the nuts. The people here actually looked amused and disturbed at how I treated him. They seemed to have hated him yet put off by how I didn't exactly show any real emotions. Walking beside Zendaya with Valentine on my other side, I slid my hands into my pockets. Smiling softly as I watched the two seemingly bicker and joke with each other. Looking at my goggles, I see the time and the weather analysis report. Clapping my hands, I got the girls' attention, letting them know it'll be raining soon.
{Heart of ember, autumntide
Burning brightly, hot and white
Kindred severed neverwhere
Sorrow's silence, we needn't bear
Stories sown along the way
Tales of loss and fire and faith}
Hurrying our pace a little, we reached a village that had burnt down. Pretty recently as well as the ashes are still hot, taking a deep breath, I looked around at the place. Spotting several blood splatters and a few corpses, but this is a magical word. Can't trust shit to actually be dead or something, even if my goggles aren't picking up life signs. Pulling my trench knife out and my 1911, I looked at the girls. With amusement in our eyes, we did what any respectable person and beast does. We made sure things were dead.
{Dys an sohm in
Rohs an kyn ala na
Mah morn
Dys an sohm in
Sahl djahs afah an
Storm of blood, born from blood, of our fallen brothers
Thunder stilled, oaths fulfilled, now we yearn for freedom}
The first corpse I shot shrieks as the dead Lalafell I hit scrambled up. Her face sunken in as she hissed and tried charging me, only for her head to sport a new hole through it. Ghouls, always a staple it seems, a dead Miqo'te jumped from a roof at Valentine but the pregnant Chocobo cries out. A green light flashing from her body as the undead creature is cut apart by blades of air. Zendaya was wrecking homes and making smear stains as she crushed and ripped the walking dead apart.
{Born in blood (still we forge ahead), stained in red (unto tomorrow)
Bound by love (so we forge ahead),
Purpose fed (unto tomorrow, bring us tomorrow)
Courage thrives (ever forge ahead),
Hand in hand (unto tomorrow, welcome tomorrow)}
Stomping my foot, I rocketed towards an Au Ra and dug my knife through his head violently. Blowing a Roegadyn's brains out with my gun, wrenching my knife free by ducking under a Viera's leaping tackle. Angling my knife just right as they leaped over me, I gutted them using their leap. An Elezen meets two shots to the head while trying to claw its way from under a broken stall. Turning on the gutted Viera I saw the once living person clawing its way off from the ground until I stomped on its back and blew its brains out. A child, a Hrothgar to be specific, flying past me with its head caved in by a kick from Valentine.
{Souls aligned (that we forge ahead),
Forge ahead (yeah, we forge ahead, yeah, we forge ahead)
Forward
Our song of hope, she dances on the wind higher, oh higher}
Running at Valentine I jumped the bird using her head to propel me upwards into the air. Taking aim with my gun, I started emptying the clip into the heads of the dead rushing Zendaya. Tucking into a ball, I land on a roof with a roll, my gun shining in the sunlight before the slide blows backwards. A Hrothgar being shot in the chest before a bullet goes through an eye and out the back of its head. Sprinting at the deceased creature, I used it as a landing shield, jumping at another Miqo'te and shoving my knife up through its chin into the brain.
{E'er our vows endure, and remain forever strong
Standing tall in the dark do we carry on
On wings of hope, you rise up through the night higher, oh higher
Carrying our song, cradled fast within your arms
That its chorus might ring for all}
Shaking the dead off my knife, I wiped it on one of the corpses' clothes. Looking around as everything went silent, I walked around a corner cautiously. Seeing Zendaya and Valentine standing in the street together covered in blood and gore. Walking up to them, I picture us being clean while trying to use magic. My intentions thankfully got a response with a white light flashing over us, sending all the dirt and blood elsewhere violently. With this place being essentially a hazard, I asked if we should move on and find another place to camp.
{One brings shadow, one brings light
Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
Tumbling down to the never
Every step we take
Echoes in our wake
Winding 'round our fate}
A few minutes of charades, sign language, growls, and bird cries, we left the dead village behind. The sun was dipping over the horizon and coast as we walked until we needed to set up camp. Finding a nice out-of-the-way spot, I gathered some wood and foliage for a fire, which Valentine started using her claws. We hunkered down around it to eat some dinner and drink something. At times, I write in the dirt to teach the two how to write as well, Valentine has the better handwriting of the two. Zendaya's is chicken scratch. The Behemoth was ashamed of that fact, yet we still helped her improve.
{To forge ahead
Should we lose our way
Tire of all this pain
We won't be afraid
To forge ahead}
At midnight, though, I looked at my necklace while my two traveling companions slept. Focusing on the scythe, I felt a tattered cloak cover my armor, something calling out to be summoned into my hand. Stretching my right hand out, a guillotined scythe bladed shotgun with engravings appeared in my grasp. Looking at the engravings, I see the left side has clouds and gates that seem to release a glow. The right side had engravings of skeletal doors with grasping hands reaching for it. The barrel though had the most engravings that fed into the two gates.
From the barrel, words in Latin surrounded by spiraling thorny vines feed into the gates. The words read out three phrases: "The Righteous Fall", "Sinners Redeemed In Sacrifice", and "None Are Innocent, All Be Judged". Next, it was the blade on the underside of the barrel and body that resembled a scythe's handle. It was the blade which had the most engravings and another three Latin words, "Song of Blood".
Seeing those words surrounded in engravings of bloody musical notes. I chuckled at it all, my, I'm guessing, Reaper partner Lacron floating before me holding its own scythe. He studied my scythe, which doubled as a serious stomping power at a blast in close range likely to rip someone apart. Looking at the cloak covering me, I gently held one part of it, seeing the black fabric have white and red embroidery like vines. I let it go and let it all vanish with my necklace glowing white once more.
{Fearless hearts ablaze (When the world comes crumbling down)
No more time to waste (Know I'll be there)
No, it's not too late (Though our fleeting moment has gone)}
Laying back against a tree, I looked at the rather beautifully clear sky and closed my eyes. Letting sleep come to me, with thoughts on my current position being drowned out. The slow, rhythmic breathing of my companions helped to ease me into sleep.
{To forge ahead (You're not--you're not alone YEAH)
As we ride again (As you turn your eyes to the stars)
To another end (Oh, I'll be there)
Where it all begins (With my chorus guiding you)
Forge ahead (Forge ahead)}
The next morning we got up and got ready after doing my morning routine together. The sight of a man, a Chocobo, and a Behemoth running and working out together probably looked terrifying yet interesting. Given, we did turn shadow-boxing into actually beating each other up lightly. After a good morning session, we headed out to Limsa Lominsa's capital once more. Along the way, we met various people and creatures, though most were terrified of Zendaya. She doesn't like that, but she enjoys the rare compliments by those we meet.
{One brings shadow, one brings light
Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
Threescore wasted, ten cast aside
Four-fold knowing, no end in sight
One brings shadow, one brings light
Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
Threescore wasted, ten cast aside
Four-fold knowing, no end in sight}
Reaching it soon enough before the afternoon, we are greeted by a rather stunning sight. An essentially floating city bathed in the morning light, water glistening, birds and ships in the background. Taking a picture using my goggles to feed the image to my phone, I motioned for us to move on. Zendaya snorting with a toothy smirk on her face, Valentine cooing before walking forward. Shaking my head at the two, I checked the map and the white dot was in town as if waiting.
{All our splendour bathed black in silence
Our surrender a sombre reverie
Slowly drifting down into twilight
Left to sifting through faded memories
Know our places, for worth is wordless
Evanescent, this writing on the wall
Brother stay this descent to madness}
Heading towards one of the many entrances, we walked up a ramp towards the gates. Two Roegadyn's in this area's military uniform looked startled seeing us. Pulling out a guild card from one of the more remote places we've visited, I offered it to one of them. One extremely cautiously stepped forward and took it while eyeing Zendaya.
Seeing her sulk at possibly not going to be allowed in, I reached over, scratching under her chin. This got the big child to perk up and rumble a purr as her body trembled. Valentine flapped her wings indignantly at the guard, the sole eye glaring at him, promising violence.
"Uhm… I'm sorry? Everything is in order…. Please proceed through the gates and behave."
He raised his hands defensively while his partner chuckled at his plight. Shaking my head, I climbed up onto Zendaya's head as Valentine jumped lightly and climbed into her box.
{Come and save us. Catch us before we fall
Riding home
Riding home
Finding hope
Don't lose hope
Like broken angels, wingless, cast from heavens' gates
(Our slumb'ring demons awake)}
Walking through the gates, numerous sights greeted us with plenty of mixed looks. Though one woman dressed as a knight tried to get in the way, was blown off her feet by Zendaya snorting out a breath. She landed on her back, confused at how she had been knocked over and then just discarded, as we just went on our way. Although we could've gone to see the Warrior of Light immediately. I like the good man I am. I decided I would like to tour the city first. They can wait.
{We only fly when falling, falling far from grace
(Hell take us, heaven can wait)
Our lives a message in a bottle cast to sea
(Disgrace untold and unseen)
Quick to their ends, our candles burn until we're free
In monochrome melodies
Our tears are painted in red
(Bleeding to the edge)}
Have to admit, the place is gorgeous and lively. More lively than Frog, Arkansas, which is a weird but very real town name, and possibly Las Vegas in how everyone acts. I mean if some random ass street chef has the balls to sing a pancake song, and make one for a Behemoth then it probably fucking is. Good pancakes though, four out of five. Said chef was even amused when we each rated their pancakes according to our tastes.
{Deep inside we're nothing more
Than scions and sinners
In the rain
Do light and darkness fade
Yes, time circles endlessly
The hands of fate trained ahead
(Pointing to the edge)}
We even found fucking random street performers summoning Carbuncles, those little cat fox things that glow with a gem on their head. I may have almost ruined a show by somehow summoning six accidentally without thinking and wearing the biggest one as a hat. To be fair. The little dude was cuddly and chunky that it just happened to end up in a hat situation. The other five ended up playing and dancing with the performing ones. The one on my head was content to lay his fat purple glowing, but I'm nodding my head and sing silently.
{All things change, drawn to the flame
To rise from the ashes.
To begin
We first must see the end
One brings shadow, one brings light
Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
Threescore wasted, ten cast aside
Four-fold knowing, no end in sight}
Eventually, though, we did end up at the giant Aether Crystal around midnight. Where an Au Ra female with white and gold scales, donning a mix of Summoner and Pugilist clothes, stood waiting. She had a dark tan for skin, ruby red eyes, a rather lean but deceptively compact muscular build, four horns curving upwards to the side of her temples, her clothing being a dark emerald green color, a book rested on her hips while flexible knuckle dusters rested on her knuckles. Her hair, though, was completely white, as if all colors had been drained from it.
{One brings shadow, one brings light
Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
Threescore wasted, ten cast aside
Four-fold knowing, no end in sight
Rock of ages, we cast the first stone
In our cages, we know not what we do
Indecision here at the crossroads
Recognition, tomorrow's come too soon}
"I'm glad you finally came, I'm Salamis Drigovic. The Warrior of Light, and your partn-"
'You're not my partner, these ladies and this chunky boy are. You're honestly just some random woman who's been standing here for nine hours waiting creepily for me. Never met you until now, therefore you are not my partner, just a stranger.'
The smile on her face faltered as looked at me and my sign language, she was rather surprised. Did… did she think I was just going to say "Golly fucking gee you're my best friend already pardner, let's go kill shit!" She took a step towards us, we stepped back, she tried running at us, we ran backwards. Seeing that we weren't just going to let her close, she scowlingly pouted.
{Follow blindly like lambs to slaughter
At the mercy of those who play the sword
As our song wends dead underwater
We're forgotten for now and evermore
Riding home
Riding home
Finding hope
Don't lose hope
Without a compass wand'ring lost in lies of faith}
"Why are you avoiding me?! Hydalen said you were a Warrior of Light as well! That makes you my partner! So why are you avoiding me and denying it?!"
'Because I died and got sent here with power's I didn't really ask for, I just wanted to speak again. Now you, the Warrior of Light, a fabled myth to these people, are trying to fuckin indoctrinate and force me into me being your buddy. Just because we both have that title and powers don't mean we're suddenly friends or shit. I DON'T KNOW YOU, NOR DO I REALLY CARE FOR YOU, YOU'RE. A. STRANGER. TO. ME. Does that fucking make sense?'
{(Faith slowly wasting away)
Only alive in fighting Death's amber embrace
(Our hearts beat loud, unafraid)
On Hands and knees we pray to gods we've never seen
(Come shadow, come follow me)
The final hour upon us, no more time to breathe
In monochrome melodies
Our tears are painted in red
(Bleeding to the edge)}
She looked at me as if I had signed something unbelievable at her. Stuttering, the Draconic woman looked me in the eyes, looking ready to cry and scream at me. Yet, I looked at her and scowled at her for trying to even remotely get sympathy from me.
{Deep inside we're nothing more
Than scions and sinners
In the rain
Do light and darkness fade
Yes, time circles endlessly
The hands of fate trained ahead}
"You… you…. You're a Warrior of Light! You're a good guy! Furthermore, you're supposed to help me and work with me! We're a team, the heroes of Eorzea!"
Watching her scream at me, I shook my head and said it to her EXTREMELY bluntly.
{(Pointing to the edge)
All things change, drawn to the flame
To rise from the ashes.
To begin
We first must see the end}
'I am NOT a hero, I'm really not one, you delusional fucking idiot. I'm a soldier and a soldier, I always will be, at the end of the day. Sure I've helped save people, but I've assassinated people, burned people alive, used chemical warfare to kill people, bombed crowded areas, used people as meat shields, executed those surrendering, silenced witnesses, and a lot of other shit.
I'm not a hero, I'm pretty fuckin bad at it, since I always did most of my orders faithfully. I may not have liked most of it, but I don't feel anything about killing a person. I just remove them permanently from the picture, sometimes with a smile on my face. So really don't call me that cursed word, heroes die like dogs in a ditch while being forgotten slowly. New life though, so I'll definitely try helping if I can, but it'll never be for free, I'll always gain something from it.'
She shrunk at each word I bit out using sign language, when I was done, she tried saying something. I focused on my necklace, letting my Warrior of Darkness cloak and weapon appear. Lacron floating above me holding his scythe loosely with it resting on his shoulder. Mine was pointed at the ground, blade tip lightly scratching the stone ground.
Using my free hand, I signed a threat and what I'll be, but nothing more.
'I'll kill you if you try saying something stupid again. Now you'll be a good little Warrior of Light while I just clean up your fucking messes like a shadow.'
She replied rather meekly, seeing my expression, even with my mask on, was not one of kind intentions or overjoyed interest in her.
"Yes sir…."
'Good, maybe we can see about friendship through this if you don't make me want to strangle you. Just NEVER call me a hero.'
"Yes sir…."