synthneon | echoes of truth | ❝ tales of loss and fire and flame. ❞

When one has lived with discomfort for a century? Believe me when I say that your company soothes many aches. The discomfort is of my own actions and choices.

[ At her gentle rub, his eyes involuntarily close. The tips of his ears give a small twitch, and underneath all the robes, his tail flicks as well. A jolt of electricity goes up his arm, surprising him that he even has sensation left in what has become crystal. Still, the motions are comforting, and it takes his willpower to not to relax entirely on her. ]

Has she never taught you the art? [ The Exarch is surprised more than anything. ] Still, not all healing comes from magic we possess. I would wager that sometimes the simple act of caring can heal many wounds.

That may be, but part of me still believes that you shouldn't have to. And if I could do something about it, I would.

[ But she finds herself encouraged by his reaction, because she expected him not to react at all. If he were to relax on her, she wouldn't pull away. Instead, she'd try to hold onto him and continue the comforting motions. ]

She has, but she's more gifted at it than I am, and that's saying something. [ She hesitates for a moment before adding in response: ] Well, I- I care for you. And so do so many around here.

'Tis a choice of my own making, Thisru. I was asked to perform this task--to carry the hope of all those who wished to save the world from the drastic state that the Eighth Umbral Calamity wrought. [ He smiles sadly, and yet fondly, as he looks down at the stylized floor. ] I remember thinking that if I could not only see their wishes fulfilled, but save the heroes that I adored? Not only that, but save the lives they could of lived with those that they cherished? It would be all worth it. And, it has been worth it, and will continue to be worth it. Every step of it.

[ His ear closest to her twitches. ] Ah, so your studies of the magicks are not just simply due to choices, but natural talents as well. I would presume then as the trade off, your sister is far from skilled at creating arcane creations?

[ As to which he realizes he has not seen K'thisru's trusted carbuncle yet this evening. ]

And as such I have been able to carry a great many things thanks to the care of all of you. What we have achieved, my friend, has been made possible due to all of our parts. Not just mine.

At the very least, you should not have to carry it alone. [ And perhaps that is what truly bothers her the most about this. She understands the need to carry responsibilities and to feel responsible for carrying the hopes of others, but it does not have to be a task that is done alone. ] Even my sister and I have had help along the way. I think we wouldn't have gotten this far otherwise.

[ And while she does not wish to seem as though she is arguing, she adds: ] What about your wishes? Could someone see those fulfilled for you? [ She purposefully leaves that vague, but she knows that she herself wishes she could do something for him in return. ]

As far as I know, her skills lie more in healing, not in making things, but I wonder if she studied it, even just a little. [ She is hardly the most dedicated scholar, but in her opinion, everything has a little bit of an overlap.

And at those words, she places her hands on her hips and shakes her head at him with a touch of lighthearted exasperation. ]

Then why not let us carry more of those things for you?

I would imagine the many people of the Crystarium would say they have helped me carry it... and now, you and your sister. [ He smiles gently at her. ] After all, who else could make the hopes and dreams of so many come true if not the people themselves and their heroes?

[ The Exarch pauses. ] I suppose I never thought much of it. I had put my own wishes and desires to the side for so long... Perhaps I will make a list and see if it meets your approval?

[ It is not difficult to follow the lines of thought to see that K'thisru implies herself.

As to the details of her sister, the Exarch tilts his head in thought. It is certainly something he intends to ask at a later time. Perhaps it is more an academic perspective of how the two sisters use their aether in different yet complimentary ways. ]

You would stay on the First and help lead the Crystarium? [ He chuckles. ] I would not dream of anchoring you to one place in such a way. Instead... perhaps you could tell me stories of what has happened on the Source? All the details of what has happened to Ishgard, the tempering, but even before then. How has the war fared against the Empire? What hidden treasures have you found on the Source? That way, as shameful as it is to admit, I might live the adventures as if I was beside you all along.

[ His words make her pause; it was not her intention to place herself or her sister on the same level as those of the Crystarium. After all, they have known the Exarch for far longer and have been with him through so much. But regardless, she intends to offer what support that she can. ]

I think that you can still do your duty and go after your hopes and desires too.

[ She smiles again and nods. ] I would like to see that. And as for stories, there are so many of them, but I'd tell you all of them, if you wanted.

[ For now, she keeps her own wish to herself, but one day, she wants to take him on his own adventure so that he does not have to simply rely on stories told to him by others. ]

But where to begin? [ He asked for news about what happened on the Source, and that is a good place to start. Her question is more for effect than anything else. She may not be the star's best storyteller, but she has learned a thing or two from whose who can claim to be that. ]

Hm. I wonder if I truly could.

[ The task of seeing the Warriors of Light to live another day aside, there is still the duty given to him by his bloodline. He is the caretaker and host of the Crystal Tower. The secrets and knowledge it contains are for him to not only learn, but use to guide things to a future that those not stricken by Emperor Xande's madness hoped to see. At one point his days of adventuring would need to end to see that with fulfilled. ]

Tell me one of the adventurer that brought you the greatest joy by its end. I have a rather academic knowledge of your adventures after I locked myself away within the Tower. That knowledge, however, always pales in comparison to the first hand account.

[ The Exarch shifts against her, if only to lay down beside her as the screens continue to shift through the information held within the databanks of the Crystal Tower. Once settled, his hand returns to rest on hers as he waits to hear what story she decides to share with him. ]

I'm certain that you could. [ If she has to walk with him and give him a supportive push every now and then, then that is what she will do. ]

The greatest joy, you say? [ She pauses for a moment to think about that. Not all of the adventures that she has had ended joyfully, but there is one that gave her joy and excitement for the future both.

Almost without thinking, she shifts so that she is a little bit closer to him, pressed against him but not in an uncomfortable way, and she smiles with contentment as she begins relating a tale of a long drawn out war, of brave companions, and of newfound understandings forged with those who were once considered enemies. And at the end of it all, war became turned into peace.

As she talks, she thinks about how nice this is, to be sharing this moment with him, and she resolves to have more of these times together with him. ]

echoes of truth | ❝ tales of loss and fire and flame. ❞

BOOK 3.5: EVER HEAVENSWARD

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/starts to wrap this up (so we can start another with them ho ho ho)

hohoho