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

[ The gentle morning sun has graced The Crystarium, and all the better for it. Thanks to the endeavors of the Warriors and the Scions, Norvrandt and what remains of her people have been saved from annihilation. The Crystal Exarch, while forever grateful, knows that he took quite the gamble with it all of course. He also knows that the debt he has to the two sisters can never fully be repaid; nor can a thousand apologies be enough for what they've had to endure.

He simply hopes that they can understand he acted in the best interests for not only Norvrandt, but the people the Scions and warriors too wish to save.

The residents of the Crystarium cheer and wave, even bow when the see K'thsiru warp into the plaza. Smiles and well wishes are certainly the opposite of what she had just left behind in Limsa Lominsa. The large staircase that adorns the north of the plaza beckons to the Warrior, and the guards salute her as she joins them. ]

'Ere to see the Exarch, Warrior? No worries. He's been in that stuffy meeting with the newest Emissary all morning and would probably be glad to see you're here. I'll show you to the teleporter.

[ As... well, it would be quite ridiculous to expect the Warrior to traverse all the stairs ever upwards to the Ocular. It is, after all, the Crystal Tower.

The Exarch is indeed in a meeting with said Emissary once the door unexpectedly opens. With his hood down and his red to white aging hair on display, he turns to see who might interrupt. It is to say, a very welcome surprise when he sees K'thisru's face. He smile widens and his ears perk ever slightly. Not for the first time is he glad his robes hide the tail that twitches only a bit at her presence. ]

Ah, and here she is, hero of our time! Without a moment to spare, might I add. We had just finished our discussions for now.

[ He turns back to the Emissary with a smile, who casually shrugs and sees himself out of the room. The ruby red eyes follow him before finally returning to K'thisru. His smile lessens once he notes her countenance and part of him wonders if she brings ill news or if perhaps she has finally soured towards him. ]

Thisru! Is... everything alright?

[ When K'thisru warps into the aetheryte plaza, it takes her a moment to realize just what that sound is. To hear applause greet her as she adjusts herself after her arrival is slightly surprising, but she manages a smile and a wave to the people who are there in the area. To smile for them takes some effort, but she does her best.

And when she nears the staircase and is greeted by the guards, she nods to them and gives them a smile as well. Before she can protest and say that if the Exarch is busy, she can wait to meet with him but the guard escorts her in.

She wishes that she could smile for him too, but he is one person around whom she feels she does not have to pretend. His greeting would make her smile if not for the dire circumstances behind her arrival here.

Once the Emissary departs and they are alone, she does not hesitate to run towards him and all but throw herself at him, desperately seeking his comfort. ]

I didn't mean to come unannounced, but- [ Her breath hitches and her words catch in her throat, and for just a moment, she buries her face into his shoulder. ]

[ His ears move to stand entirely on end when she wraps her arms around him. A thrill always runs up his spine, and he considers himself blessed that she might even turn her eye towards him. The feeling is fleeting however, for he notices the pitch of her voice and the way in which she apologies. His stance settles to be able to handle her full weight as his arms wrap around her securely. ]

Thisru... [ His hand still made of flesh raises to gently test on top of her head. Part of him fears it is unseen trauma finally ebbing its way through her from all she has experienced--and there naught be a way he might help her. ] Has something happened? What's wrong?

[ When he wraps his arms around her, she just leans into his hold, wanting to just pour out everything she has been feeling into his embrace. She remembers how many times she wished she could hug him or be held by him, so now that it is possible, it means everything to her.

She hiccups once before she can finally answer. ] There have been more primal sightings lately, the latest one being in Coerthas and its surrounding areas. Many people from Ishgard have been tempered, among them the Lord Speaker, Ser Aymeric.

[ While she was explaining, she lifted her face from his shoulder, but no sooner does she mention Aymeric's name than tears form in her eyes once more. ]

[ The fact more primals have appeared is worrisome enough. Then again, the more strife caused by the Empire, the more one would rely on faith and their gods to deliver them. Ishgard, however...

What he knows of the city--other than brief projections--is limited simply to books. The head of their state--the Holy See--struck down by the Warriors of Light. He supposes that the idea that some still harbor the belief to summon King Thordan would be there...

His ruby eyes return to hers as she speaks the last of her report. Then, they widen. Of course, even from politics alone, he is aware of the danger it presses. Then, there is the fact of the damage it would cause to moral to have the leader that saw them to the end of the Dragonsong War tempered...

Of course, the Exarch is no fool. He understands in an instant what about the situation truly distresses the woman he has always loved. It would be the reason why she has returned to Norvrandt on her own. ]

Your sister remains in Eorzea to take on the threat of the primal on her own? [ Something tells him he is wrong in this assumption. ] No... that cannot be it. You would not leave your sister in the heat of battle.

[ The Exarch frowns. ] Is she... has she...

[ There is no true belief that Alkaid has fallen in battle. However, it remains best to propose situations so that K'thisru might deny them easily. He cannot imagine her sister is far from the situation. After all, his books had always credited her as Viscountess de Borel. ]

[ She pulls herself back from the hug, because all of her anxieties and fears are turning into a restless energy, and she suddenly feels the need to move. While pacing back and forth, she waits for him to process what she has just relayed to him.

She can tell the exact moment when the significance of everything she has said so far sinks in and she is quick to answer his questions. ]

I did not wish to leave her, but Estinien- Aymeric's good friend... He believes that in order to put a stop to this, we need help from other sources.

[ But before she launches into why she has come, she must ease his concerns. ]

Alkaid is all right... She is worried about Aymeric, as are we all, but she is as well as anyone can be. [ Distraught, afraid, worried... She knows all of those apply to her sister, but at least she is healthy and at least physically unharmed. ]

I came here because we need your help. [ She meant to give him more time to process her latest bit of information, but once again, that sense of urgency leads her to speak too quickly. The words are out now, and she can't recall them, of course, so she just has to keep going forward, hopefully with his assistance. ]

[ He would hold her longer if she wished, but he has ever known her to be of boundless energy. He was the same in his days of his youth. And so, he let's her go, watching as she paces. His arms fold to withhold his own emotions for now. It surely would be of no use to her. ]

Would it be a reunion be under far better circumstances... [ The Exarch closes his eyes, ears twitching as he listens to her footsteps and her continued explanations. Then, a hint of a smile cracks on his face. ] Ser Estinien? Ah, the stories I have read! If they are true, he played host to Nidhogg, did he not? While not the same, he would similarly understand a possession of another force.

[ The Exarch opens his eyes and gives her a sad smile. ] If I understand your sister as half as well as I believe I do? She is far more than worried.

But, of course, my services are at your disposal as they always have been. My debt to you saving Norvrandt aside. [ He is certain she would insist there is no debt at all. ] How might I be of assistance?

[ If she wasn't here because need drove her to be, she would not mind in the least if they could just sit and talk for awhile. But she has a purpose that must be seen to before anything else. ]

Yes, a part of me wishes that it was. [ But she smiles, seeing how excited he appears to be at the mention of the dragoon. ] Estinien is a good friend... a little intimidating, but becoming better acquainted with him has been a good thing. I do wonder how he is holding up with everything that has happened.

[ Aymeric and Estinien seem closer than brothers, and she feels no small amount of sympathy for the tall dragoon. ]

Oh, I know that she is more than worried. She cares so much for Aymeric, and to see him like this... [ K'thisru's face falls and for just a moment, she closes her eyes, willing herself not to tear up again.

She opens her eyes once more once he begins to speak, and she nods, resolve replacing the raw emotions she had just worn. ]

Well, I don't know very many people who claim knowledge about the Allagans, but you seem like something of an expert. Did they have a way of dealing with primals and tempered people? [ She knows she has just jumped right into the heart of the matter, but that is just the way she is. ]

[ No matter how much has passed, no matter how old he becomes? A part of the Exarch will always be in awe of those heroes who have done amazing feats. Ser Estinien survived being possessed by the great wyrm. That alone is a feat within itself, regardless of the possession itself. He fought dragons and found peace with dragons. The Exarch reveres all heroes and sees them as inspirations... even if he is biased towards a couple of sisters. ]

If anyone would be capable of making any of us speak our troubles even if we had not intended to? It is most certainly yourself and your sister. [ A nod is given with an encouraging smile. ] You should reach out to him when time allows.

[ "Cares for" is yet another phrase that seems to be said lightly. He would imagine that the sisters would care for someone deeply in order to take the name of another. Not that he would dare consider the idea that K'thisru would see him as such. He would be a poor partner indeed... with little to offer her other than the horrors of the quest he sent her on. ]

Well, I would consider myself an expert. At least of the Crystal Tower and general Allagan settlements. [ He closes his eyes in thought, frowning slightly as he briefly visits what he knows. ] You may recall that Dalamud was used to house the primal of Bahamut... and Azys Lla housed three primals to contain them. If any records of experiments with them and tempered persons exists? I would imagine they would be housed there.

[ The Exarch then gestures to the room to the side. ] Shall I bring up the records the Tower might have?

[ In all honesty, feats like the one that Estinien managed to achieve and lived to talk about seems to far outweigh anything that K'thisru had done. At least, that is how she sees it. She and her sister might be praised as heroes, but she believes that the real heroes are the ones who don't always get recognized. ]

Oh, I don't know about that. But I am starting to realize that sometimes all a person needs is another person to listen to them. [ And so she is trying to make a concerted effort along those lines. Perhaps some of that can be attributed to present company, a thought that brings a small smile to her face. ]

That's what I was hoping you would say. [ And then she shrugs and gives a half-shake of her head, as if already expecting him to say that the other thing she hoped for is an impossibility. ] Part of me hoped that you would come back with me, so that you might share what you know in person.

[ But she just assumes that he will decline, either citing an inability to do as requested or that he is simply too busy to leave. ]

If you could bring up the records, at least that's a start.

And yet you wonder of the wisdom you and your sister possess.

[ A gentle smile takes his face then, as if he were truly the old man he proclaims to be. Then, his gaze drops to the side in contemplation. Of course, he has devised a way that he might return with her. It would be the same in how he returned the Scions, after much pain and struggle. The way, in fact, has already been prepared. However, he would not soon abandon the Crystarium to return with her. Not until he sees they are indeed well on their own and need not his guidance.

He keeps the smile on his face even as he looks back to her. He nearly reaches out to her with his normal hand, but stops just sort. No, now is not the time to ask for her presence or even her attention in such a way. The Exarch can only imagine it is why she first ignored him all those years ago.

He leaders her to the circular side room. At the center back wall is a control panel, while the room itself is littered with books and stacks of books. A chair, as well, but it is rather obvious he makes his way by sitting upon the floor and pouring over the books that were stocked within the Crystal Tower. ]

If needed, I can project myself once more as I had before. In fact, I might have a few tricks still up my sleeves that may help in this endeavor. Now that a link between the Crystal Tower here in Norvrandt and your point in time exists.

[ It is, of course, taxing and requires quite a bit more than he could muster. The Crystal Tower would demand compensation, as it already has for ensuring the Scions safe return. In fact, should she look close enough, she will see where a slight limp is in his step.

Once inside he strides to the computer system. Comes to life and he gives a smile to K'thisru, still endeared and awed by the technology he has surrounded himself with for the last hundred years. ]

Tell me, where would you prefer to start? The Allagan Empire's timeline spans an age, and culminates in a calamity.

[ K'thisru merely laughs, although it is not quite the same unbridled laugh that she might have given if the situation at hand was not so serious. ] Oh, one of us is wiser than the other, and I know that it is not me. [ She has always thought of Alkaid as the smarter one of the two of them, and her opinion has not changed.

As distracted and scattered as her thoughts are, in light of what has happened to Aymeric and because of how hard it must be on her sister, she does not look away from him for even a moment. Neither does she miss the way he reaches for her, only to pull back at the last moment.

Even as he leads her to the side room, with its control panel and stacks of books, she extends a hand to him, hoping that he will complete the action he started and take it. ]

We'll take any help that you can give. I don't know very much about tempering or how to stop a primal short of slaying them, so I hope that any knowledge you can share will be helpful. [ Willpower alone won't save Aymeric or the people of Ishgard, no matter how much K'thisru wishes she could reverse what has been done by simply wanting it to be so.

She turns to look at the computer system, and although this is not the first time she has seen something like it, she finds herself marveling nonetheless. She has not missed the way he limps, and if she could, she'd insist that he sit down so that she can give a brief massage to what must be a sore area. ]

I don't know. [ She has no problem admitting to that, knowing that she is certainly out of her depth here. ] Where do you think we should start?

I would believe this is an instance in which one would use the phrase, "all things in due course."

[ He, of course, sees K'thisru having her own wisdom. While her sister might have the knowledge and wisdom of the white mages of her soul stone, and how to mend ailments of all types? K'thisru understands when action is needed and when to stay her magic. That in itself is a lesson that many mages have yet to learn... even in the time of Allag.

His smile turns fond to her as she gazes at the computers. It brings him more than a small amount of joy to see the wondrous look he has on the face of another. A nod is given before he turns his attentions back to the computer. Screens appear around them and he gestures to one. ]

A brief history then.

[ He claps his hands and one single screen opens to show the once great capital of Allag. ]

At the end of the Third Umbral Era, a man known as Xande began to gather the scattered tribes of our star that had survived the calamity. He brought together those who knew of magic and technology to weave together a mighty Empire that would spand all of what we know as Eorzea. This was the heart and seat of the Allagan Empire, which would then further expand the rest of the world as the Third Astral Age continued.

[ The Exarch raises a hand and gestures to another screen. ]

Their unique set of technology, aetherochemistry, was the study and application of harnessing energies to power the technology. Which is how and why the Crystal Tower functions as it does. It was meant to be the showcase, if you will, of this technology. It would absorb the energies of the heavens and become a boundless limitless pool of energy that they might tap into. [ A shrug is afforded with a small tinge of pink in his cheeks. After all, it is clear what tapping into said energy has done to him alone. ] However, they grew complacent, and as such, their Empire stagnated. You no doubt recall Amon, the man we encountered in the Tower all those years ago. He sought to resurect the great Emperor Xande to return the Empire to its glory... and he succeeded.

Emperor Xande had become warped by his revival and thus set on a path for a bloody war with the lands south of the sea of Eorzea. Meracydia. As the war continued they turned the art of summoning and brought forth powerful primals to stave off the Empire. Ones, which I am certain you are familiar with. The Warring Triad--of course--and Bahamut.

Azys Lla was created to house the Triad and, if memory serves, was the foundational blueprint of what would encase Bahamut. The Red Moon of Dalamud.

[ There is, of course, far more to be said of the Allagan Empire. However, despite the scholar he is at heart? He believes it best to focus their efforts on why she had come to him in the first place. Allag and their relations to primals. ]

BOOK 3.5: EVER HEAVENSWARD

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