“Heroes of Light, kupo!” came the frustratingly cheerful reply from Merlose, the moogle. “Come to save us all from the Calamity from the Skies, just like the legends say!”
Ashelia looked around at the other supposed ‘heroes,’ eyes narrowed. This is not right. This cannot be right. There was a tightness in her chest she hadn’t felt in a long while. The young queen thought she had left this feeling behind in the days following the war. The feeling of not knowing what would happen next, if tomorrow would be the day she’d be hunted down by the Empire, if one of the men or women standing beside her would be the one to put the knife in her back: vulnerability. I’m alone again. No castle wall. No friends. After everything… She made a decision. She couldn’t stay here; she needed time to process all this. If what
“Are you alright, kupo?” the moogle asked, fluttering closer to Ashelia’s face. “You do not seem –“
“Of course not! You’ve no idea what you have done – I am Queen of Dalmasca, brought here against my will and forced to…to…” She trailed off, trying desperately to control her anger. “To what? Fight for you? I demand to be taken to the ruler of this Aqures Ixen. This is an act of war!”
“Qu-queen?” Merlose stuttered, backing up considerably. “I didn’t…kupo…”
Ashelia glanced around, worried that her reaction would draw the other arrivals’ attention. “You will take me somewhere private and you will tell me everything I wish to know. Understood?”
“Yes, milady. Of course, milady.” Merlose spun around and led Ashelia away from the Fire Crystal. The queen took one last glance back at the looming monolith, grimacing. She was going to get to the bottom of this, and whoever was responsible would pay dearly.
Culinary Attractions After the averted public meltdown at the Fire Crystal, Merlose took Ashelia back to her house – a nice surprise for the displaced noblewoman, but not near enough to make a difference as far as her mood went. One long and emotionally draining conversation later and Ashelia was completely famished. She sent Merlose off to arrange a meeting with the leaders of Aqures Ixen and, after taking a while to cool off and regain control of her emotions, she set off to find something to eat at one of the stalls.
Ashelia sighed quietly as she took in some of the options available. At least Merlose had been able to retrieve what Ashelia had been wearing before being whisked away from Rabanastre. Even if the small creature didn’t seem too enthusiastic about her chances of booking a meeting with the interim leaders of the city, she had done that much at least.
Still, the young queen felt more exposed than she ever had before. Even when running from the Empire and struggling to regain her kingdom, she had Vossler and the remnants of the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca, and though at one point she had been willing to take off on her own to King Raithwall’s Tomb, she was rather glad that didn’t turn out to be necessary. Here, in this new world of Crystallis, she was alone. Completely and utterly alone.
The other heroes… Ashelia shook her head as she walked slowly through the crowd, one hand resting on the pommel of her sword. I know them not. I trust them not. It was simple as that. They may well all be in the same situation, but not even Merlose, try as she had to put a positive spin on everything, could invariably vouch for their strength of character.
And so Ashelia walked along, deep in thought, looking utterly and completely lost, though she knew exactly where she was in relation to her home.
Fireworks It had been a full day. She hadn’t seen pom-pom or poof of Merlose since sending her off that morning, but Ashelia didn’t care. She found it relatively easy to navigate the city, as long as she kept to the major thoroughfares and kept track of where the castle was. As the night wore on, though, she found herself becoming more weary than usual. It hadn’t occurred to her until now how much she would miss magick. At this time, she would have been behind her desk, signing letters and discussing itineraries with her steward – all under the affect of Haste, of course. There was no better spell suited to keeping one awake late into the night, and she much preferred it over the after effects of caffeine.
When the fireworks started, Ashelia found herself on the side of a high hill, under a large, if lopsided tree. She leaned against the trunk, looking up at the light show. It was no doubt beautiful, but it brought her no joy. She had finally won, finally crowned herself queen and saved her people from a disastrous war and the terror of the yarhi…and now she was here, in Crystallis, looking at some fireworks. She brought her hands to her chest, clasping them together, rubbing her wedding band absently. At least I have this still. It would have to be enough for now.
no subject
“Repeat that.”
“Heroes of Light, kupo!” came the frustratingly cheerful reply from Merlose, the moogle. “Come to save us all from the Calamity from the Skies, just like the legends say!”
Ashelia looked around at the other supposed ‘heroes,’ eyes narrowed. This is not right. This cannot be right. There was a tightness in her chest she hadn’t felt in a long while. The young queen thought she had left this feeling behind in the days following the war. The feeling of not knowing what would happen next, if tomorrow would be the day she’d be hunted down by the Empire, if one of the men or women standing beside her would be the one to put the knife in her back: vulnerability. I’m alone again. No castle wall. No friends. After everything… She made a decision. She couldn’t stay here; she needed time to process all this. If what
“Are you alright, kupo?” the moogle asked, fluttering closer to Ashelia’s face. “You do not seem –“
“Of course not! You’ve no idea what you have done – I am Queen of Dalmasca, brought here against my will and forced to…to…” She trailed off, trying desperately to control her anger. “To what? Fight for you? I demand to be taken to the ruler of this Aqures Ixen. This is an act of war!”
“Qu-queen?” Merlose stuttered, backing up considerably. “I didn’t…kupo…”
Ashelia glanced around, worried that her reaction would draw the other arrivals’ attention. “You will take me somewhere private and you will tell me everything I wish to know. Understood?”
“Yes, milady. Of course, milady.” Merlose spun around and led Ashelia away from the Fire Crystal. The queen took one last glance back at the looming monolith, grimacing. She was going to get to the bottom of this, and whoever was responsible would pay dearly.
Culinary Attractions
After the averted public meltdown at the Fire Crystal, Merlose took Ashelia back to her house – a nice surprise for the displaced noblewoman, but not near enough to make a difference as far as her mood went. One long and emotionally draining conversation later and Ashelia was completely famished. She sent Merlose off to arrange a meeting with the leaders of Aqures Ixen and, after taking a while to cool off and regain control of her emotions, she set off to find something to eat at one of the stalls.
Ashelia sighed quietly as she took in some of the options available. At least Merlose had been able to retrieve what Ashelia had been wearing before being whisked away from Rabanastre. Even if the small creature didn’t seem too enthusiastic about her chances of booking a meeting with the interim leaders of the city, she had done that much at least.
Still, the young queen felt more exposed than she ever had before. Even when running from the Empire and struggling to regain her kingdom, she had Vossler and the remnants of the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca, and though at one point she had been willing to take off on her own to King Raithwall’s Tomb, she was rather glad that didn’t turn out to be necessary. Here, in this new world of Crystallis, she was alone. Completely and utterly alone.
The other heroes… Ashelia shook her head as she walked slowly through the crowd, one hand resting on the pommel of her sword. I know them not. I trust them not. It was simple as that. They may well all be in the same situation, but not even Merlose, try as she had to put a positive spin on everything, could invariably vouch for their strength of character.
And so Ashelia walked along, deep in thought, looking utterly and completely lost, though she knew exactly where she was in relation to her home.
Fireworks
It had been a full day. She hadn’t seen pom-pom or poof of Merlose since sending her off that morning, but Ashelia didn’t care. She found it relatively easy to navigate the city, as long as she kept to the major thoroughfares and kept track of where the castle was. As the night wore on, though, she found herself becoming more weary than usual. It hadn’t occurred to her until now how much she would miss magick. At this time, she would have been behind her desk, signing letters and discussing itineraries with her steward – all under the affect of Haste, of course. There was no better spell suited to keeping one awake late into the night, and she much preferred it over the after effects of caffeine.
When the fireworks started, Ashelia found herself on the side of a high hill, under a large, if lopsided tree. She leaned against the trunk, looking up at the light show. It was no doubt beautiful, but it brought her no joy. She had finally won, finally crowned herself queen and saved her people from a disastrous war and the terror of the yarhi…and now she was here, in Crystallis, looking at some fireworks. She brought her hands to her chest, clasping them together, rubbing her wedding band absently. At least I have this still. It would have to be enough for now.