#ff14 legacy

[keykidpilipili]

1.0 Echo grabbing onto npcs

We'll black out together :)

[trustinsighters]

Alzadaal's Legacy - Aquatic Fauna

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

having shrimp emotions abt the end of shb again

[madoreenao]

Coloured doodles...

[storms-path]

FFXIV Write 2024: Day 11 - Surrogate

Under Ul’dah’s midday sun, Sanda was sweltering. Her own fault, really, dressed in her shinobi blacks. Even if it weren’t for her shining scales and tail, she’d stick out like a sore thumb among the various city-goers and merchants, all making their way to and fro what was surely very important business. Still, could be worse. She could be Fareena, practically melting in her newly repaired gunbreaker regalia, or Stalwart in her uncomfortable woolen robes. What an odd trio they made. What an odd trio had worked tirelessly to save the star, and all others, from certain doom.

It was blindingly obvious that they were missing a piece.

A fact which their would-be client had not failed to notice as she approached. Nanamo ul Namo (or rather, Lady Lilira) was quick enough to mask her confusion as she approached, but few things escaped Sanda’s gaze. Still, the sultana bounced back from the surprise before she reached the group. Papashan, her faithful shadow, lingered not far behind. Subtly, of course.

“Mistresses Washi, Mountain and Hagen! Thank you so much for your swift arrival!” She couldn’t quite hide the upper crust of her accent, but she made an admirable attempt. “I won’t keep you waiting. In fact, time may well be of the essence.” Intriguing. The request the three of them received hadn’t seemed all that urgent. What had changed between then and now? “If you’ll follow me. Fear not, Papashan will keep watch for Arashi. He will point her in the right direction upon her arrival.”

She was off before anyone could correct her. Arashi, at present, had been bundled into a ship bound for a barely-charted island in the Cieldalaes with her wife and one very determined Tataru Taru. She had personally promised Sanda that Arashi would get some relaxation far, far away from any world-ending scenarios. Sanda would hold her to that. But while Arashi rested, it fell to Fareena, Stalwart and Sanda to ensure nothing disturbed that rest. Whether Arashi liked it or not. What my sister doesn’t know can’t hurt her.

Fareena was quickest to follow along. She likely smelled a new adventure. Or just a chance to be a nuisance. Stalwart, already frowning, was not far behind. Someone had to keep the centennial viera from making a mess of things. Sanda made to follow the pair, but a polite tap at her knee stopped her. Papashan, frowning in concern, looked up at her. “A moment, mistress Washi.” Then he turned off into a nearby alleyway, gesturing for Sanda to follow. Curious, she did so.

Papashan’s face remained curled into a frown, his brows creased and his moustache downturned. “My apologies for the delay, but I must make sure of something. Certain… rumours have been circulating, and I had hoped there was no foundation to them, but with Arashi not present...” Sanda had the suspicion she knew what was coming. The damn thing had been following them around like a plague. But still, best to nip it in the bud here and now. Sanda opened her mouth to answer the question before it could be asked. “No, my sist-”

“Did Arashi give her life in defence of our star?”

Sanda’s mouth shut of its own accord. Memories welled up unbidden, memories of her sister lying deathly pale on the floor of the Ragnarok. Memories of everyone pouring all the aether they could spare into her wounds, while Sanda could only stand there and stare. The pain must have shown in her face, for Papashan’s face turned ashen in turn. “I see. I had feared as much. You have my deepest commiserations, my dear. Your sister was a shining soul, and she has surely found peace in the star’s embrace.”

Calm. Deep breaths. Seek the part of you that cannot flinch. Embrace it. The emotional turmoil dimmed, fell away. Sanda’s face returned to neutrality. “You misunderstand.” Her voice was strangely flat, a side-effect of her pushing away her emotions for a time. “My sister is alive and well. She’s simply recovering from her wounds.”

Relief washed over Papashan’s features like a tidal wave. He released a deep sigh and offered her a smile. “Thank goodness!” Sanda almost believed he meant it as more than just relief that Eorzea’s most reliable errand girl still lived. But she had seen too much in Arashi’s shadow to truly allow herself that trust. Someone had to keep themselves sharp around such people. And if those people got cut on the jagged edge, so be it. Her sister’s wellbeing was more important than theirs.

“That being said,” Papashan continued, a strange glint in his eye. “I must confess my curiosity as to what you were about to say.” A flash of what could only be described as grandfatherly glee lit up his eyes for a moment. A cold flush swept through Sanda. Did it bear repeating to one so blissfully unaware of the current round of rumours? Would he allow himself to be steered away from the topic. Sanda, whose knowledge of people and conversations was so woefully lacking compared to her sister, was frozen. And Papashan, judging by his smile, knew it.

...Well, in for a gil, in for a coinpurse. “Someone has been spreading rumours that Arashi hasn’t been appearing of late is…” By the kami, she was going to strangle Fareena for spreading it in the first place, “That my sister is pregnant. Which isn’t at all true!” she hastily added, ruefully aware of the panic in her tone. “She doesn’t even like men! And she’s married to Mistress Hext! It’s-”

She was cut off by a chuckle emerging from the lalafell retainer. Growing into a laugh. Building into a guffaw. Soon the man was doubled over, gasping for breath between uncontrollable fits of laughter. It took several minutes before he was finally recovered… only for another round of laughter to rack him until he broke down coughing. “Well…” he managed between aftershocks of giggling. “That certainly explains your wish to quell it so quickly!” Then he was laughing again, filling the alleyway with his delight.

It took almost a quarter of a bell before Sanda and Papashan finally rejoined Lilira. Which gave Sanda plenty of time to plot her revenge against the interfering viera. Sanda didn’t miss her smirk when Sanda rounded the corner.

Laugh it up while you can, Hagen. I’ll have the last one in the end.

[mrslittletall]

So, apparently in FF14, even if your character started with A Realm Reborn and never played through Legacy, they are STILL the Legacy character?! That doesn't work with my backstory for my WoL at all, so I am simply going to ignore that. The original WoL sadly didn't make it. They got lost in time. Only their spirit managed to travel through time.

[fey-t-ff]

[evilpenguinrika]

Summary

After running around fighting mobs, Hope had expected to spend the rest of the day relaxing with her girlfriend, Josie. But it seemed like fate had other plans. Hope and Josie end up entangled in helping out a mysterious man from another world to figure out just how to get back to where he came from. Also, what do you mean this mysterious man is a Crown Prince!? Or, I really enjoyed the FFXIV/FFXV collab event that happened that I wanted to write a story about Hosie meeting and helping Noctis

My three-part mini-fic is done!! I didn't realize writing a mini-fic based/inspired by the FFXIV/FFXV collab event A Nocturne For Heroes would take so much outta me! But as promised (to myself), I finished this before March was over! Yay!

Read this fic from the beginning || My Hosie FFXIV AU Series || My Hosie FFXIV AU ramblings

[luc1d17y-ffxiv]

This was the only mostly clear angle in any frame of the DNC LB3 because it had to be the second-most-blinding after RDM.

[petrolstationflowers]

handy links

My AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/AayriSolassa/works Works on tumblr tagged with: sussiluna piao, idiot machinist lizard, aayrisolassa

My sims mods: https://modthesims.info/member.php?u=10083159 Works on tumblr tagged with: ts3, ts3cc, mysims3cc, the sims 3, the sims 3 cc

My Sims 3 legacy, "The Pathetic Loserman Challenge,": https://petrolstationflowers.tumblr.com/tagged/pathetic%20loserman%20challenge/chrono

please come and talk to me, ask me questions, or be like "what the actual fuck was your thought process here," because I love people and rambling about my work

[yellowcrumpet]

I found the spin dungeon 

[brightwingedbat]

I see a post going around with worry over anet doing another expac next year and another the year after. But to me I fully expected this to happen with the studio updates they made before SotO.

As it is, yes, it does cost more than what players used to get, it is essentially half a living world. But honestly getting multiple years of absolutely free content on an MMO without a sub fee is extremely generous. Me being a late start to the game though I had to buy them all anyway, I never had free living world content for being there early, it's not something I've 'lost' with the new way anet is doing content.

To me right now, I do see SotO as yes, half of living world's worth of story. But am I fine buying that? Sure I am! I had to buy living world content anyway. I've been enjoying the story, I've gotten hundreds of hours worth out of SotO already even outside of story content and have enjoyed every moment of it. Just for £21.99.

I also see comments that anet is being greedy and money-hungry for selling expacs rather than making free living worlds. (Which feels more like legacy player privilege, not everyone got those for free.) So let's put this into perspective with another MMO. Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIV.

FF14 expac + 2 years of sub = £30 + (£92.28 x 2) = £214.56 2 gw2 expacs over 2 years = £43.98

Guild Wars 2 is almost 5 times cheaper over the same course of time than a competing MMO to play even with the new yearly expacs.

If this were equivalent of a sub fee, it would be £1.85 a month, except you permanently own that content forever past the year.

Edit: adding something about my opinion on this overall from earlier reblogs.

My argument is the generosity of Living Worlds came at a hit to profit which potentially impacted the devs in such a way that grind was required. Less profit = less money to spend on hiring devs to avoid grind.

My ideal thing is we get content like lws4 was, even if it costs more than getting 3 years of content for buying PoF at the time did. If that profit goes to making better working conditions for the employees working on the game.

Edit 2: shgfsghf I reamend that. PoF to lws4-6 was September 2017 to May 2019. We got 11 maps in less than 2 years, no wonder PoF-LWS4 stretched Anet so thin.

[trustinsighters]

Alzadaal's Legacy - 2nd Boss: Armored Chariot

Remember to heal, Urianger!

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

anyway also wrt the new alt is that one really funny thing is how QUICKLY the pc gets grabbed by The Plot. you kill an ascian at like level 14. the next day you're personal friends with the leader of your home nation i guess and already being assigned warrior of light and Hero Of The People and everything. i got here Yesterday let a guy get their footing a little bit first

[reassambled-dragoon]

FFXIVWrite 24 Masterpost

OKAY. YOU GUYS WIN. I'll add something resembling a header later...

As a heads-up, I'm not doing any kind of specific storyline. I'm letting the prompts speak to the 2x4 of Inspiration. If it concerns AU Storm, it will be tagged AU Storm/AU: on our fates alight. Otherwise, it's generally safe to assume this concerns mainline Warrior of Light.

Resident Blood Elf might make an appearance, if a prompt fits. Stasia Sunrunner is a sin'dorei now permanently living on Eitherys, so yes, she counts as a FF14 character.

The Cast (so far)

Day 1: Steer (Husband and wife alone-time! No, not THAT alone-time, come on)

Day 2: Horizon (A teenaged goldsmith apprentice makes a feathered friend)

Day 3: Tempest (FF16 AU hosted by @scrollsfromarebornrealm featuring a very, very pissed-off Dominant of Rhalgr)

Day 4: Reticent (Post-6.0 but no major spoilers. Lord Godbert noticed a colleague wasn't acting like herself, and decided to do something about it.)

Day 5: Stamp (Stasia Sunrunner, aka Resident Blood Elf, takes vicious delight in making a couple of Scions squirm.)

Day 6: Halcyon (Minor 6.0 spoiler mention. Storm revisits her childhood home, and is found by an old friend.)

Day 7: Morsel (Jorgan loves grooming time!)

Day 8 was a free day, so I took it off to rest.

Day 9: Lend an Ear (Storm's father receives an incredible nameday gift. Endwalker role quest spoiler.)

Day 10: Stable (Beginning of Dawntrail spoiler. Storm helps Wuk Lamat fight her seasickness.)

Day 11: Surrogate (Minor Endwalker spoilers. Storm and Ameliance have a heart to heart about their shared children.)

Day 12: Quarry (Resident Blood Elf plays Manhunt with Spyboy.)

Day 13: Butte (Dawntrail spoilers. Erenville, Stasia, and Storm are exploring the desert.)

Day 14: Telling (Endwalker spoilers. Those who Storm has loved and lost come to give her heart when she needs it most.)

Day 15: Free Day, choice: Family (Endwalker spoilers. A glimpse into the life of Storm's past self.)

Day 16: Third-rate (Bold Star sees their dingy, neglected flat and declares Challenge Accepted.)

Day 17: Sally (Dawntrail spoilers, but location is unspecified. Everyone draws Storm into a linguistics debate, and she ends up having fun.)

Day 18: Hackneyed (FF16 AU hosted by @scrollsfromarebornrealm. There is only so much false sympathy Storm can handle before she lashes out.)

Day 19: Taken (Estinien and Stephanivien force Star into talking to them about how she 'fell asleep'. Much furious cursing ensues.)

Day 20: Duel (An old friend sure knows how to prick Storm's pride.)

Day 21: Shade (Sin'dorei and Hellsguard compare their homes and takes on addressing the departed.)

Day 22: Free, choice: Hope (Set during Heavensward. Bold Star is determined to bring hope to those who have none.)

Day 23: On Cloud Nine (Dawntrail location spoiler. A Dragoon enjoys some reckless freefall.)

Day 24: Bar (Storm helps her friends take care of boring work. Laughter makes it go quicker.)

Day 25: Perpetuity (Endwalker spoilers. Resident Blood Elf ponders the rise and fall of nations while scavenging in ruined buildings.)

Day 26: Zip (Minor Endwalker spoilers, nothing major. Well, Bold Star certainly has an emphatic way to shut down an argument.)

Day 27: Memory (Endwalker spoilers and the fallout of hellish trauma. Hekaarn is a good friend, he really is.)

Day 28: Deleterious (Resident Blood Elf would be giving Thancred greys if his hair wasn't white already.)

Day 29: Free day, choice: Legacy (Dawntrail spoilers, end of MSQ! Storm and Hekaarn ponder the ramifications of her inheritance.)

Day 30: Two Heads Are Better Than One (THE FINALE!!! Dawntrail spoilers and a sequel to 29. Cid is more than up to the challenge of helping his wife solve the puzzle that she brought home.)

[storms-path]

WoLyse Week 2024: Day 6 - Future

Lyse awoke to the sound of combat.

This wasn’t particularly unusual, given she was sleeping in her wife’s private quarters in the school. Training would-be adventurers in the ways of self-defence was the aim of those hallowed halls, after all. But two things about the clamour were. Firstly, the voice she could hear crying out in rage and frustration was unfamiliar to her. Lyse wasn’t familiar enough to put names to the faces of all of Arashi’s students, but she had learned to differentiate their voices. Arashi wasn’t looking to enrol anyone else, if her constant complaints about full hands were anything to go by.

Secondly, there was only one voice, but from the ring of steel against steel there were clearly two combatants. Meaning Arashi herself was locked in battle with an interloper.

Adrenaline spiked, panic gave speed. Lyse was moving before she could think. It took mere moments for the red-tinged blur to reach the source of the noise. Sure enough, Arashi was present. As was a large, lanky Raen boy, armed with a katana and screaming in fury. Trying desperately to find a way through Arashi’s guard. Failing.

Arashi had spoken before of her sister’s talent, of reaching a point beyond calm and becoming a force to be reckoned with by shutting out the world. Arashi herself claimed she had never been able to replicate it herself, but seeing her so easily dodging, deflecting and outmanoeuvring her opponent, Lyse wondered just how true that was. Arashi’s face was slack, void of emotion as she fought. But Lyse saw the glint in her eye before the killing blow was struck. The boy didn’t. In a flash of steel he was disarmed, the sword flung to the floor. In another flash he was defeated, a blade to his throat.

“That would be my win, I think.” Arashi’s voice was as calm and matter-of-fact as if she had been discussing the weather. The boy, breathing heavily, stared daggers at her. His great shaggy mane of snow-white hair was clinging to his scalp, drenched in sweat. But he had not a scratch on him. A test, then, not a true battle. Then Arashi turned to face Lyse with a smile. “Sorry if we woke you, dear.” The boy was forgotten for a moment. A moment was all he needed.

With a scream of rage he pounced forward, a knife suddenly in hand and poised to strike Arashi in her throat. He didn’t get that far.

[TRUE STRIKE]

Fist met face with a sickening crack. The boy was flung to one side. He clattered to the ground with a groan of pain. Lyse ignored the slight throb in her hand as she turned to ensure Arashi was unharmed. It was then that she realised just how close Arashi’s own blade was to Lyse’s face, where the boy’s knife had previously been. Of course she was preparing her own counter. So many summers of retirement from adventuring had done nothing to dull her skills, despite it all.

Arashi took a steadying breath, sheathed her sword, gave Lyse a thankful nod. Then she was striding over to the boy, who was currently rubbing his jaw in obvious pain. Lyse hoped she hadn’t broken anything. She’d tried to pull her punch, but she had a nasty habit of letting her emotions put a little too much strength into her strikes. Arashi held out a hand to the lad, clearly not particularly impressed with his trick but willing to put it aside. The boy hesitated for a moment, then took the hand.

Standing upright, he towered over both women with ease. But the look on his face was one of a scolded child, not a proud warrior. He looked rather young, perhaps seventeen or eighteen summers old. His skin was nigh as pale as his hair where it wasn’t covered in scales. He was rather skinny, but Lyse could see the corded muscles that he had clearly spent some time in building. But it was his eyes that drew Lyse’s attention. They were the same shade of blue that she saw when she first entered the Ruby Sea, all those years ago. Bright and electric and mesmerising. And… familiar, somehow. Like someone she’d seen in a dream, a long time ago. Strange.

“Not bad, but you were much too obvious.” Arashi’s voice cut through the air. Stern, appraising, her teaching voice she’d spent a long time mastering. “You’ve a long way to go. Now, why don’t we get an ice crystal for that jaw and you can tell me why you demanded this bout in the first place.” The boy grimaced at the assessment, but nodded and allowed himself to be led to the infirmary. Lyse followed close behind, not exactly trusting him not to try something again but willing at least to trust her wife’s judgement.

It wasn’t long before the three of them were seated in the empty infirmary. Lyse hadn’t taken her eyes off the interloper, aside from the occasional glance at Arashi. She had been filled in on the boy’s story so far, how he had apparently appeared in the Lochs aetheryte, promptly emptied the contents of his stomach, then demanded that the master of Storm’s School of Combat answered his challenge to a duel. He hadn’t shut up until someone had directed him towards the school itself, at which point he had nigh-sprinted to the doors and immediately challenged the first Raen woman he’d seen. Which, thankfully for him, was Arashi herself.

What Arashi had not been able to discern was the reason for his challenge in the first place. She had no idea who he was, nor did he give his name when asked. He was a tornado of mystery and anger, refusing all else but a duel with the fabled Warrior of Light. Now, however, it was time for answers.

“My name is Tenzin.” His voice was a low baritone, rough with exhaustion but still captivating. “I came to test myself against the strongest warrior in the land. I failed. I’m not strong enough yet.” Simple enough so far, but the pair could have figured that out themselves. He was clearly hiding something more. Strong enough for what?

Arashi said nothing, simply stared at Tenzin in silence. Lyse hadn’t missed the way her eyebrows raised when she heard the name, though. Lyse dimly recalled Arashi’s encounter with the Four Lords, of their shared grief over the legendary warrior who shared the boy’s name. It was certainly an auspicious legacy to be given. Now, however, her face had returned to its stony state. Waiting for the boy to fill the silence. Eventually he did.

“My sister has been kidnapped.” Tenzin spoke the words calmly, but neither woman failed to notice the strain in his voice. “We were travelling together, visiting our relatives in Doma, when bandits fell upon us. I fought them, but they hit me with a cowardly attack from behind and overpowered me. They would have ended me, but my sister fell upon them in a fury. They… they took her. Vanished down the One River. That’s why I came here. To fight you. To prove I could return and save her.” His gaze was fierce, but fixed directly at the floor. “But I failed. And now my sister is…”

Lyse saw the fire blaze in Arashi’s eyes and knew what was about to happen. With a sigh, Lyse laid a hand on Arashi’s shoulder. “Do what you need to. I’ll warn Hien that the Warrior of Light is about to take matters into her own hands.” Strictly speaking, Arashi had no right to barge into Doma and make a royal mess of a bandit camp, but Hien was lenient enough as long as he was given prior warning. As were a great deal of the other nations’ leaders. Arashi had enough good faith to cash in on a few rampages, as long as they were righteous. Several of her students had come from stunned spectators watching her carve a path through men and monsters alike.

Arashi gave Lyse a thankful smile, then turned to Tenzin. “Which way did they go down the river? North or south?”

Tenzin looked confused for a moment, then responded. “South, I think. But what are you-?”

“Taking care of Hien’s problems for him. Again.” For all the lord of Doma spoke of restoring his great nation, he still had a long way to go. Particularly in ensuring his people were not so desperate as to turn to banditry to make their way in life. “Stay here. I’ll be back soon.” Then Arashi vanished with a soft pop. Lyse excused herself, then strode outside to hail Hien.

“Hien, it’s me! … Yes, I know it’s been a while, but- … No, listen! Arashi’s on her way to- … No, not to visit. We’ve had a visitor and- … No, your soldiers won’t be enough, so- … Well, it’s too late now! Arashi’s already teleported! … Look, send Sanda or Yugiri after her if you must, but- … Don’t take that tone with me! I’m trying- … Ugh! Fine, be that way. But she’ll be long gone by then, you know.”

Hien had not been particularly pleased to hear that Arashi was taking matters into her own hands again, but he knew better than anyone that she couldn’t be stopped when she got the idea in her head. A Dark Knight’s justice was absolute, and delivering mercy to those others overlooked was her call to action. Besides, Hien was all bluster. He would forget about it in time. And perhaps Lyse could make a gift of some Dalmascan Red to smooth things over in the meantime…

A new sound broke through the quiet. Tenzin was crying. Lyse was back in the infirmary in a blink, arms wrapping comfortingly around the boy. “She’ll be alright,” she said, kneeling down to meet Tenzin’s downcast gaze. She wasn’t sure if she meant Tenzin’s sister or Arashi, but she believed it without reservation. Tenzin clearly didn’t believe her, but he nodded anyway. “This isn’t the first time this has happened, you know.” Lyse continued on. “You wouldn’t believe how many people have barged in and challenged Arashi to a fight. And not once have I ever had to intervene. You’re stubborn. I assume it runs in the family?” Tenzin nodded mutely.

Lyse couldn’t help but smile. “Must be an au ra thing, then. You wouldn’t believe what Arashi gets like when she sets her heart on something. To say nothing of her sister. Sanda’s normally so quiet, but when she and Arashi argue…” Lyse shook her head. “Arashi will be fine. So will your sister. She’s the Warrior of Light. She tore down the Garlean Empire, destroyed the immortal Ascians, saved existence itself from the incarnation of despair. A few bandits won’t stop her.”

Tenzin looked at her then, a flash of something unrecognisable in his eyes. “I wish I had your faith. It must be nice.” Lyse’s heart broke for the boy. While times were a great deal easier for most than they had been during the time of the Garleans’ ruthless expansion, there was still a great deal more to be done. And a great many who still suffered all too cruelly under the circumstances of their birth. Tenzin’s story was his own, but Lyse suspected it was not a happy one.

Another pop sounded just outside, followed by the clatter of a weapon to the floor. Arashi appeared in the doorway, now properly armoured and covered in blood. A grim smile was on her face. “Found her,” she declared. Followed swiftly by, “Don’t worry, blood’s not mine. Wasn’t bandits, though.”

Arashi began to explain, but was swiftly interrupted by another face by her side. A girl, barely more than ten summers, eyes wide with amazement. “BROTHER!” she cried, then flung herself at the unprepared Tenzin. The boy was tackled to the ground in an instant, Lyse just barely avoiding the same fate through some swift footwork. She shared a glance with Arashi, then followed the au ra out of the room. The siblings deserved a moment or two to catch up. And Arashi deserved a moment or two to wash up.

A short while later the two women returned to the infirmary, Arashi now properly garbed and not reeking of blood and sweat. Tenzin had been allowed to return to his seat in the meantime, and was making absolutely certain that his little sister was unharmed. His sister, for her part, looked rather unamused but was putting on a brave face through her sibling’s worrying. “And you’re certain they did not harm you, Hana?”

Arashi froze at the name, but neither of the siblings noticed. Lyse closed her hand around Arashi’s, giving her a reassuring squeeze. Arashi smiled in response, letting out a breath she didn’t realise she had been holding. She had explained while getting changed that what Tenzin mistook for bandits had in fact been the guards of a noble house, who had been sent to abduct both of the children on their way through Doman lands. They were, apparently, distantly linked to some other noble house who had insulted the abductors in some way, and this was their means of payback. Arashi had paid them a visit and ensured they would not harm anyone again. She had even left a note for the shinobi who would inevitably investigate. A courtesy call for Sanda, she called it.

Still, both agreed that it wouldn’t be safe to send the pair back home. Several of the guards had escaped Arashi’s particular brand of justice, and it was likely there would be others seeking revenge for the act. They had spare rooms at their house, and the School had rooms aplenty if they sought somewhere that wasn’t under the Warrior of Light’s roof.

Arashi cleared her throat, eyes fixed on Tenzin. “The people who attacked you are dead, as is their master. They can’t and won’t hurt you again, not while you’re under my protection. But you can’t go back to Doma, nor your home. At least not yet. There’s no telling who else might seek to hurt you for what I’ve done.” Arashi paused for a moment, letting what she had told them sink in. It was not an easy thing to be told that you couldn’t return to your homeland. Arashi and Lyse had both swallowed that pill at an early age.

“You don’t have to stay here, or even in the city, but I’d prefer it if you did. I want to keep an eye on you, make sure you’re properly protected. And, if you’ll allow me, I’d like to teach you both how to take care of yourselves.” Tenzin’s eyes lit up for a moment before he could contain his emotions. “Tenzin, you’ve got some skill with the blade, but you’re much too obvious in your movements. And as for you, Hana,” Arashi said with a wry smile, “You have a great deal of passion, but clawing at the eyes of a well-armoured fighter won’t do you much good. Lyse, however, can teach you how to throw a punch which will break the armour of any who cross you.” Lyse noted the near-feral grin suddenly light up Hana’s face. Yes, she could certainly teach her a thing or two.

“You don’t have to decide now, but I’d like to hear your response by tonight, if that’s alright.” Arashi smiled at them both. “Until then, rest. Relax. We’ll give you the tour of the place, introduce you to the other teachers, get you both a good meal.” It took all of two seconds for Tenzin and Hana to come to a decision. It would be the easiest choice of their lives.

Many, many years later, as Tenzin prepared to step down from his position as Grandmaster of the Storm School of Combat, he would look back on his meeting with his friend and mentor with a soft smile. She had tempered the brash, over-zealous boy into a worthy successor to her. Or so she had said, when she had finally allowed herself to properly retire. He only hoped she still thought so, when he crossed into the Aetherial Sea to reunite with her. Still, he would leave the school in good hands, as she had done with him. Her legacy would live on. This much he swore.