xistentia | 01: Video; Daemon: Haurchefantd

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01: Video; Daemon: Haurchefantd

[ It's the end of their world as they know it.

Again.

Aymeric is sufficiently disoriented when he comes through one of the mother crystal's portals to Xistentia for the second time. They'd gone from the clutches of destruction and back only to fall once more into its grasp, apparently. At least the timelines converge this go about; he's not alone when he realizes where he is, that he's been here before.

Though he can't honestly say he's pleased about it either when he sees the state his friend is in. She's barely conscious for as long as it takes him to get his wits about him. Emeraldd and Haurchefantd both reassure him that she's fine, she'll live. There's an undeniable haste to his gait regardless as he carries her to his apartment, same space as before. Surreal, in a way, that so little seems to have changed here but back home had seen tremendous shifts politically.

Though she's stabilized, it takes a good while for the worry to subside. For him to be a little less frantic and recognize that maybe he should- He should say something, shouldn't he? The people would want to know about this, it might be valuable information for those wondering about the fate of their worlds. ]

Good evening, people of Xistentia, [ he greets, polite as ever. All business, blue eyes not quite as bright as some might remember. ] I know Era had addressed the public before about our departure, so it only seemed fitting that I was the one to announce our return.

While our leave was voluntary, being brought back was not. Though from my understanding, it was necessary. 'Twould seem F.A.T.E.S. was only able to subvert our world's destruction at D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.'s hand for a limited time. I am of the belief that what we're doing here is working for those of you who might be concerned with the restoration of your homeworlds. To what degree, however, is possibly dependant on factors I am not yet aware of.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have about our experience if it's possible that it might assist in understanding our situation here in Xistentia better.

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... yeti.jpg

Okay, no. Actually, Aymeric's brows furrow curiously at the floating mechanism. It's a peculiar creature; he had figured it was Era's new daemon, until he took note of Emeraldd still present.

"Hello," the Elezen greets, sounding perhaps a bit more uncertain than he would like. "Are you a friend of Era's then?"

"Yes!" Definitely the excited chirp of a young boy. "I am the being that resides in her anima weapons." Accentuated with an excited twirl. Sorry for the enthusiasm Aymeric. "Era worked so hard to give me life during your war!"

It's charming, a little, in its own right. If he weren't so weary from worry, he might be able to appreciate it more. Aymeric may also be having trouble wrapping his head around the whole concept of an Anima, to be honest. He only shows a fraction of the confusion that he feels on his face though for the moment.

"So you are... alive," he says, tilting his head curiously. "But you are the spirit of her weapons?"

"Yes! ...But only a few of them. Not all weapons can withstand my presence within them." He will never not be grateful for all the effort Era put in to having multple weapons crafted for him to use. And then, proudly: "I have a soul, like any other living thing."

...Sort of. Aradshir said something about a 'pseudo soul', but Anima thinks that's close enough to an actual soul.

"I would imagine not," he murmurs in agreement. He wonders if Naegling could house such a thing and the lengths he might have go to himself to attain it. Though while there might be the time here, this world is sorely lacking in the same resources from home that Era had to acquire to bring this 'Anima' to life.

"How are you enjoying your life thus far?"

That's likely an open-ended enough question to allow the Anima to expound upon it's newfound life however it wishes. Also, it will let Aymeric learn more about it as well.

"It is wonderful! The world is vast and filled with such wonders I hope to see. Era has been doing her best to take me to all the places she knows." An excited twirl. "And now there is another world to have adventures in!"

If Anima had anything else to add it's interrupted by Emeraldd wandering in. Though silent, its presence is indication enough that Era is no longer simply sleeping. A moment later the woman in question pads her way in on socked feet, rubbing at one eye with a sleeve and stifling a yawn. Her posture is stiff - to a warrior such as Aymeric it should be clear she's in a great deal of pain, but is bearing it stoically.

Perhaps in a bit she will summon Lily to help ease more of the pain. For now, however, Era is much too exhausted to consider expending any more of her aether.

"Era!" Sorry Aymeric - Era will always be Anima's number one, and he abandons the man to fly over to his mistress quick as can be. "Are you feeling better?"

For all that she's recovering and exhausted, Era still manages a smile for Anima that lights up her whole face. In answer she can over offer a timid shrug. Yes, she feels better than she had initially, but there is still a ways to go before she's back to full health.

The spiderweb of burns across her skin from being hit by a particularly powerful Thunder attack have already started to fade, and the scales that were damaged by powerful flames have already started to come loose. It's most noticeable on the backs of her hands, though she had changed into one of her kimonos before leaving her room and the short cut of it shows that a majority of her legs are tinged pink from heat, interspersed with the web of electric burns.

Be prepared to find random scales in random places over the next few weeks, friend.

"Aymeric," she says softly in greeting, taking note of his presence. It's... a relief, to be honest. To have Aymeric there with her, with not only the stress from her injuries but the stress of knowing Hydaelyn's fate rests on her shoulders.

He's about to add to that, say that he'd help Anima explore this new world himself but then the creature is flitting off. It's only seconds later he spots Emeraldd padding into the main room and hears the gentle steps of Era's feet not far behind it.

He can't help but give the smallest of smiles at her own directed at Anima. It's true, then, how much she cares for this little being. That's a unique bond that they share, certainly. But he doesn't have time to dwell on that before he's reminded of her hurts. He'd seen some of them, of course, but now with more of her skin bared it's more severe than even he'd realized.

"Era," he says in kind, giving a nod of his head before making a move to come to her. "I'm relieved to see you awake, my friend. I must admit, you had me quite worried there for a moment."

'Quite worried' might even be a bit of an understatement. The poor Elezen was practically frantic (as frantic as he can get, anyway) as he'd rushed her back here upon arrival.

"My apologies," she offers, gaze somewhere to the floor rather than Aymeric's face.

Logically she knows that it isn't her fault, Era still can't help but feel guilty for failing. At some point she'll have to face that monstrosity its black holes again, and given how it went so far... A writhing mass of beings tearing the sky itself asunder, all the elements of black magic used against her. She has dealt with unimaginable pain in her years as the Warrior of Light and that had been the worst of it all. She doesn't want to face it again. Doesn't want to be the one Eorzea turns to for every single thing big or small. She'll save them all and receive naught for her pain save for a thank-you if she's lucky.

Anima and Emeraldd both sense her distress, the latter leaping up into her arms as a distraction (and its sudden weight against her skin makes her flinch, but its a comfort worth the pain nonetheless) while the former twirls and spins in front of her until she cracks another smile.

"You have nothing to apologize for," he says to that. In fact, in this moment, it's a surreal bit of role reversal. Usually, he's the one apologizing for one thing or another even when it's out of his hands. "I know the risks, same as you, but still I saw the state you were in and I'm."

A pause. He's trying to articulate this right. His speeches are often pre-planned and calculated, it's a little more difficult to be as consistent on the spot. And especially when one might be just a touch emotional still. "I'm just glad that you made it out of there as intact as you did. I daren't dream the ways it could have been worse." He couldn't bear to think of Era failing and not because what that would mean for the realm, he realizes, but that it would mean losing her. "And I'm more grateful than you'll ever know for taking on such an arduous task in the first place. Again. You've more than earned a bit of rest."

"People are dying because I was not strong enough," she says simply. The tightness of her chest is back; the ringing in her ears, and the throbbing in her head. Era hugs Emeraldd closer to her chest and focuses on her breathing - in, out, in, out. See, think, feel.

She is very careful not to recall the faces of the companions that joined her in her fight inside the Deltascape, for they were not as lucky as she. Echo blessed they may have been, they were still not Hydaelyn's Chosen.

More and more frequently Era wonders why it had to be her. Why not anyone else? Why must she bear so many burdens?

"How can I rest, knowing that?"

"Because it is not your burden alone to bear," he answers. "You can't take every fatality on your shoulders, carry every life as a weight on your soul." For if she did, it would drag her down to depths he might not even be able to reach. The thought was worrisome, to say the least. But Aymeric knows the feeling of blood on your hands and the way the guilt from lives lost on your watch eats away at you in quiet hours of the evening when you can't sleep. He knows even if not to the same extent that Era Ra, the Warrior of Light, does.

"I know I am not in your place and therefore don't have the same insight but I do know that you are doing your utmost. You always have." Of that, he has never doubted. Not since the very beginning and even then he regrets not thinking more of this incredibly kind-hearted and gifted woman. "And it is enough. We'll make sure of that. We have the chance to here, to make things right."

Even if it's not the way that they usually handle their battles, Aymeric has less doubt now that what they are doing here is working to some degree. "D.E.S.T.N.Y. nor Omega nor whatever force may come after will thwart you. My sword is yours, forever and always, and while we are here I will do everything in my power to assist you in making that a reality."

It's hard not to feel some manner of comfort from Aymeric's words, though she knows the deaths of her dear comrades will always weigh heavy on her heart. Era can recall one of the first things Papalymo said to her when they were reunited was how much wearier she appeared, and he wasn't wrong - between believing the Sultana and her fellow Scions dead, being accused of regicide and having to flee to a cold, unwelcoming city-state...

Despite her Blessing of the Light she is still only just a human. More or less.

"I can accept your sword while we are here," she says softly. "Yet back home your sword shall remain Ishgard's and I will not accept anything else."

Because for all that the Holy See still has a fair amount of civilians who disdain her she still loves it as she loves all of Eorzea.

He knows there's not much he can do to alleviate those weights in their entirety but he can at least help her to lighten them where he can.

"Ishgard will always come first and foremost," he does concede, bowing his head slightly. "But you, my friend, are only second by a hair's breadth."

"Eorzea will always come first for me," Era admits, then has to pause. She recalls the moments she thought Alphinaud and Alisaie dead throughout Ala Mhigo's liberation and the way it felt as though her world had ended. The thought of Shinryu leveling all of Eorzea pains her beyond words, yet still is more bearable than losing the twins. "...Or a close second. I think Alphinaud and Alisaie... They are most important to me."

It's hard to think of her found family in terms of who she prioritizes more, yet the twins will always be at the top. The rest of the Scions she cares for equally... With Aymeric a breadth above them, she realizes. Perhaps because Era had already gone through the grief of losing them?

"But you are unspeakably important to me as well," she hurries to add - and it's true. Aymeric is such a dear friend she could not stand to lose.

"Of course," he says, to the mention of the twins. Even Aymeric was aware of how protective towards the two she was. And understandably. While he had no doubt either of them were capable of handling themselves when the time arose, they were still so young to be facing the trials and tribulations that they did.

There are also a handful of people within Ishgard's walls he prioritizes. Lucia, Estinien, Lord Edmont and the House Fortemps in general, now Hilda for all the help she'd given to both Era and himself... Some he certainly held nearer to his heart for everything they'd been through but they all still held equally important places.

"As are you, my friend." Era was in a category all of her own, however, he recognized. And for honestly a myriad of reasons, some of which he didn't even truly know how to explain just yet. He would, someday, but for now he simply knows: she's more important to him than anyone outside of Ishgard ever has been and likely ever will be. "Nothing will ever change that."

Era is careful not to let her thoughts linger on her loved ones back home, where she can't be sure they're safe or even alive at this moment. She'll fix everything eventually. She always does, regardless of how much of a toll it takes on her, and she does her best to convince herself of this now.

Emeraldd leaps from her arms when she shifts them, rubbing at her eyes with one hand and then hiding a yawn behind the other. Pain still lingers in what feels like every nerve, though at the moment she can barely summon enough aether to cast the most generic of healing spells. Going back to bed would be a good idea, but the memories that plague her dreams are enough to dissuade her from it. She would much rather stay near Aymeric - the comfort in having one of her friends here with her, safe and sound.

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01: Video; Daemon: Haurchefantd

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I haven't been able to get a shot of anima doing that cute af twirl thing rip

someday!!!

#lifegoals

hoping i spell things right a twork w/o spell check

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how forward of him

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