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

[dragonssung]

song of hope

BOOK 3.5: EVER HEAVENSWARD

Tales of loss and fire and faith
Every word on our hearts engraved
In the dark you will not stray
Forge ahead, till the end, we prayCODE BY TESSISAMESS

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[justanothersinner]

[ Ysayle tilts her head to one side as she attempts to process everything he has said. It makes sense to her that he had not expected to survive his dealings with Nidhogg, even if she has not been privy to his thoughts before now. And even now, she really is not, nor would she ask to be let in in such an intimate way. At the very least, she can relate to such feelings, as a part of her thought she might not survive in her endeavors as well.

And at the end of it all, she did not, but it was a choice that she made and did not regret in any way. ]

I suppose I am in no position to ask, but do you wish that things had turned out differently? [ She will not ask in so many words if he wished that he had not survived, because again, that is not her place, and yet she imagines he will discern her meaning regardless. ]

I see. That is a good thing, is it not? [ She is not inclined to think of herself, not now, because it hardly matters, but she wonders if things might have been different had she known someone like that. She had known Estinien, at least to an extent, but at the time, there was no room for such dalliances. Or at least, no room for anything of the long-term sort. ]

Such are the choices of those who fight. To make the hard decisions is, unfortunately, unavoidable. Someone always has to make those decisions and even carry them out, if others are unable or unwilling to.

[ She still considers herself one of those people even now. And at his mention of being forced to drink dragon's blood, a shadow crosses her face. ]

It matters little and will not change what has happened, but I never intended for such things to occur. [ Her face falls for a moment as her thoughts go to those whose lives were torn apart by those fanatics who went to such extremes. She may not have personally condoned such actions but neither did she do very much to cause them to cease. And that, she feels, is one more mistake... one more sin that she has committed. ]

If you do not mind- I would remain with you for as long as I am able.

[ Her chance to connect with him on a physical level has passed, but she sees no reason why she cannot do so on a more spiritual one. If he refuses, she will leave, of course. ]

[dragonssung]

... Nay. This, perhaps, was the best outcome for all parties. Including that of Ishgard as a whole. [ It is simply hard to grasp some days that this is indeed the reality he finds himself in. It was an impossible dream merely a handful of years ago in all aspects: The Dragonsong War ending, a new path for Ishgard, Aymeric to be wed. All of it possible simply because of a pair of sisters. ] It would seem the sisters are a pair of miracle workers.

[ A low hum comes from him. ] Tis good for Aymeric, yes.

[ He has many thoughts on the matter, but will not burden a bloody ghost with them. ]

There are those who will take the best of intentions and twist them into their own wills. You cannot be held accountable for what every one of your ilk did. Although, I am certain most would say you have made up for it with your heroism, Ysayle.

[ Estinien then shrugs at her request. A vague gesture is made to the ground beside him, but nothing more is given beyond that. He is not the kindest man in the world, but he is also not one to be seen as cruel or dismissive. Ysayle surely would understand his gestures. ]

[justanothersinner]

You speak with resolve, at any rate, so I am inclined to believe you. You would know better than I, certainly. [ Ysayle's thoughts and knowledge are limited to what she saw and experienced before her death, and so everything else that followed is more or less a mystery to her. ] It would seem that they are. I must admit that I did not know what to make of them at first, and-

[ She shakes her head. Now is not the time for her confessions. The time for that has long since passed. ]

Then I will remain hopeful that whatever happens continues to be a good thing for him and for you. [ But then she laughs a dry sort of laugh. ]

My heroism, if that is what it can be called, came too late in so many ways. Would that I had had my eyes opened to the truth earlier.

[ Still, her lips turn up into a small smile as she settles herself down next to him. She certainly does understand his gestures, interpreting them as those belonging to a man who does not let people in so easily nor express kindness with ease. Perhaps he might not let her in even now, because what would be the point? Her time has also passed, and there might still be someone in the land of the living who could catch his attention and his heart.

At the very least, she seeks to offer him her companionship, and perhaps receive even the smallest amount of companionship in return. ]

What shall we speak of now? Or shall we simply maintain a companionable silence?

[dragonssung]

I do not think I know better. Since my recovery, I have hardly spent much time in Ishgard or Corethas. [ He instead has made peace with Dravanians, been given the armor of the ancient dragoons (that he in fact named in her honor), and been sent to the other side of the star to see to affairs for the dragons. He is a relic of a time in which Ishgard has begun to move forward from. While Aymeric may say he has a place in this Ishgard? Estinien knows that he must move forward from it all. ] None much knew what to make of the Warriors of Light, save perhaps Haurchefaunt and Aymeric. Both seemed to have their eyes full of stars for the sisters. Although, it was something different in Aymeric's eyes for one of them.

[ He shakes his head. ] Without you, Ysayle, the sisters would have not made it in time to stop the Archbishop. He took the power of Ascalan and attempted to drink in the power of primals within Asyz Lla. He became a primal of the King Thordan and his Heavens' Ward the Knights Twelve. I do not wish to think upon what would have happened if the sisters were but a moment later than they were.

[ Estinien casts a glance to see if any might be awake before looking forward once more. ] I suppose that would be your decision in the end. 'Tis you who are not resting within the aetheric sea. I would hear of what troubles your soul so that you cannot rest.