[ Traveling by herself has been lonelier than she thought it might be.
Alkaid raises her gaze from underneath the large white hood of her cloak to look around the airship. Of course, she could have used the aetheryte to travel back to Ishgard from Mor Dhona. It would have even been the wise thing to do to avoid the loneliness. Yet, standing in front of it, and the idea of instantly moving back home seemed so very daunting for some reason. Something that was second nature had become something she not only hesitated at, but was almost scared of. She elected to take the long way home, hands in her lap, hood down over her face to hide her identity.
Even with the rising feeling of anxiousness bubbling inside her? Alkaid still wishes to be home. She wishes to surprise the man who she will be wed to. There has been no word sent that she is on her way. All Tataru has sent to the city-state leaders is that the Calamity had been avoided, and all is well. The Scions would return in due time, and the Warriors of Light had made contact with their organization. For a brief moment, a smile spreads on her face as she imagines the expression on her betrothed's face at seeing her home in one piece.
The airship comes to port and Alkaid makes her way to Manor Borel as fast as her feet might carry her. A few heads turn at the sight of a Miqo'te dashing through the streets of Ishgard, some even calling out to her with the title she and her sister share. None of it truly registers within her mind as she climbs the few steps to the manor and catches her breath. She knocks on the large wooden door and turns her head to make certain that her husband-to-be is nowhere in sight. The smile grows on her face as her gaze moves back to the opening door to be greeted by the ever faithful Steward. He opens the door and she steps inside, brushing the snow off the edge of her cloak. ]
Lord Borel hasn't made his way home yet--has he?
[ The Steward pauses only for a moment before smiling gently. ] No, Mistress Mercedes. He has been kept late with the dealings of the other citystates. The war, I hear.
[ Alkaid nods and practically beams with delight at the idea that perhaps she will surprise Aymeric. Happily, even. Her eyes widen as an excited sound escapes the head maid from down the hall. The head maid practically rushes her and pulls her into a hug, all the while commenting at how they had all missed her and K'thisru. Alkaid gives an embarrassed laugh before reaching up and pulling her white hood down, allowing her ears to pop up.
The head maid pauses at the sight before setting herself right. ] You've changed your hair... the look suits you!...
[ Alkaid's eyes focus on the head maid but seem to unfocus at the same time. She watches as the pair leave ahead of her, not quite hearing what is being spoken. Then, her gaze drifts to the mirror on the wall. She stares at the person looking back at her, and in a brief moment, she doesn't see herself. All she can see is the scars that remain from their time on the First. Not the scars that cover her cheeks or over her eye. No, these scars are the hair changed by primordial light, and one eye shifted to the hue of blue. The blue that Ardbert's eyes once were. Ardbert, who she can sense, is very far away. Perhaps he is with her sister then. Even so...
She hardly looks like K'lantaa, let alone Alkaid, or any other name she might have been known by.
If she cannot recognize herself... would Aymeric?
Who would he think is waiting to greet him at home? Lantaa, an imposter, or maybe the monster that Emet-Selch...
Fear runs up her spine and tears gather in her eyes. Her whole body begins to shake. The rational side of her tells her he'd see none of those things; that he'd know her no matter what happened to her appearance. Yet, even before she can come to terms with a rational way of thinking, she has spun on her heel and runs back outside with the door slamming shut behind her. The hood comes back around her head and is pulled down further so none might see her hair or changed eyes.
There is no destination in mind, no place she thinks to stop running. Anywhere would do. As long as it is away--far away--from anything that does not remind her of the monster she did become. The white aether escaping her and her sister, the body of light when she looked at her hands, the way the sound would narrow in and out. Ryne having to use her own abilities to keep the Light contained...
She has not realized even when she comes to a stop. Not until she has collapsed on the ground, leaning against something made of steel and rock. Alkaid slowly turns, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping herself into as small of a ball as she can. The sounds of shops closing down the path should tell her she has reached the end of the Jeweled Crozier, but she can barely hear how she has started to cry, let alone anything else as the snow begins to fall. ]
{ return to ishgard.
Alkaid raises her gaze from underneath the large white hood of her cloak to look around the airship. Of course, she could have used the aetheryte to travel back to Ishgard from Mor Dhona. It would have even been the wise thing to do to avoid the loneliness. Yet, standing in front of it, and the idea of instantly moving back home seemed so very daunting for some reason. Something that was second nature had become something she not only hesitated at, but was almost scared of. She elected to take the long way home, hands in her lap, hood down over her face to hide her identity.
Even with the rising feeling of anxiousness bubbling inside her? Alkaid still wishes to be home. She wishes to surprise the man who she will be wed to. There has been no word sent that she is on her way. All Tataru has sent to the city-state leaders is that the Calamity had been avoided, and all is well. The Scions would return in due time, and the Warriors of Light had made contact with their organization. For a brief moment, a smile spreads on her face as she imagines the expression on her betrothed's face at seeing her home in one piece.
The airship comes to port and Alkaid makes her way to Manor Borel as fast as her feet might carry her. A few heads turn at the sight of a Miqo'te dashing through the streets of Ishgard, some even calling out to her with the title she and her sister share. None of it truly registers within her mind as she climbs the few steps to the manor and catches her breath. She knocks on the large wooden door and turns her head to make certain that her husband-to-be is nowhere in sight. The smile grows on her face as her gaze moves back to the opening door to be greeted by the ever faithful Steward. He opens the door and she steps inside, brushing the snow off the edge of her cloak. ]
Lord Borel hasn't made his way home yet--has he?
[ The Steward pauses only for a moment before smiling gently. ] No, Mistress Mercedes. He has been kept late with the dealings of the other citystates. The war, I hear.
[ Alkaid nods and practically beams with delight at the idea that perhaps she will surprise Aymeric. Happily, even. Her eyes widen as an excited sound escapes the head maid from down the hall. The head maid practically rushes her and pulls her into a hug, all the while commenting at how they had all missed her and K'thisru. Alkaid gives an embarrassed laugh before reaching up and pulling her white hood down, allowing her ears to pop up.
The head maid pauses at the sight before setting herself right. ] You've changed your hair... the look suits you!...
[ Alkaid's eyes focus on the head maid but seem to unfocus at the same time. She watches as the pair leave ahead of her, not quite hearing what is being spoken. Then, her gaze drifts to the mirror on the wall. She stares at the person looking back at her, and in a brief moment, she doesn't see herself. All she can see is the scars that remain from their time on the First. Not the scars that cover her cheeks or over her eye. No, these scars are the hair changed by primordial light, and one eye shifted to the hue of blue. The blue that Ardbert's eyes once were. Ardbert, who she can sense, is very far away. Perhaps he is with her sister then. Even so...
She hardly looks like K'lantaa, let alone Alkaid, or any other name she might have been known by.
If she cannot recognize herself... would Aymeric?
Who would he think is waiting to greet him at home? Lantaa, an imposter, or maybe the monster that Emet-Selch...
Fear runs up her spine and tears gather in her eyes. Her whole body begins to shake. The rational side of her tells her he'd see none of those things; that he'd know her no matter what happened to her appearance. Yet, even before she can come to terms with a rational way of thinking, she has spun on her heel and runs back outside with the door slamming shut behind her. The hood comes back around her head and is pulled down further so none might see her hair or changed eyes.
There is no destination in mind, no place she thinks to stop running. Anywhere would do. As long as it is away--far away--from anything that does not remind her of the monster she did become. The white aether escaping her and her sister, the body of light when she looked at her hands, the way the sound would narrow in and out. Ryne having to use her own abilities to keep the Light contained...
She has not realized even when she comes to a stop. Not until she has collapsed on the ground, leaning against something made of steel and rock. Alkaid slowly turns, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping herself into as small of a ball as she can. The sounds of shops closing down the path should tell her she has reached the end of the Jeweled Crozier, but she can barely hear how she has started to cry, let alone anything else as the snow begins to fall. ]