#he's just trying to get to know u E-Sumi-Yan don't be mad at him...

[bakuzen-xiv]

FFXIVWrite2024 (Day 4): Reticent

“The Hedgetree is not much further off, Orion. If we make haste, we can finish our investigation and be back in Stillglade Fane by sundown.”

“Agh—can’t we slow down for a second?” Orion responded breathlessly, nearly tripping over the brambles while he chased after E-Sumi-Yan.

The lack of foot traffic in this corner of the Black Shroud made it difficult for the foreign Elezen to keep up, but he tried his best not to let his mentor down. How the Padjal weaved his way through the forest with such ease never failed to impress him.

Orion didn’t even recognize his surroundings, with its overgrown foliage. In comparison to his own sluggish pace, the Padjal seemed to move even faster than usual. He was hoping for more of a pleasant stroll than this, but his mentor was merciless as ever.

E-Sumi-Yan stopped and turned around, waiting for his pupil to catch up. He raised his eyebrows at Orion’s suggestion. “Is there something you need to do?”

Orion knew better than to take his mentor’s curious tone at face value. After many months of training under him, he understood full well that E-Sumi-Yan expected one answer: No, there wasn’t something he needed to do.

But Orion was stubborn and liked impractical things. Especially if it involved something interesting, like getting to know his mentor beyond the reticent Padjal everyone believed him to be.

---

When the adventurer first walked into the Conjurer’s Guild, E-Sumi-Yan spared no expense at getting him to join their ranks. Even Orion was aware of the Padjal’s uncharacteristic enthusiasm towards him, stone-faced as he usually was. Many at the Conjurer’s Guild seemed envious or offended at the special treatment.

Still, none could fault the guild master for his enthusiasm when his favored pupil was none other than the Hero of Eorzea, strong and eager and perfectly moldable into a weapon that would strengthen Gridania's ranks.

Unfortunately, as E-Sumi-Yan would soon learn, he was also terribly curious and stubborn as a ram.

Orion wasn’t supposed to accompany him during his investigation of the forest’s barrier. E-Sumi-Yan had told him as much. Not that he carried any animosity towards the adventurer—Orion was kind and caring to everyone, whether they liked him or shunned him. Even the elementals picked up on his energy, welcoming him in a way that was unheard of for an outsider. He was wonderful company. Perhaps he might even call him a friend.

But the thought of travelling hours upon hours with said friend made him shudder. He could already imagine it: Orion, right by his side, keeping up a conversation with one-sided, incessant chatter despite the Padjal’s clear preference for silence.

E-Sumi-Yan would argue that silence helped him listen to the Elementals, hiding his attempt to dodge questions like “What was your dad like?” or “Bet I can backflip off this rock?”

He could already imagine his pupil’s complaints: "We’re not even there yet. A bit of small talk to pass the time won’t hurt, would it?” He cringed at the suggestion that his mind’s version of Orion conjured up.

The real Orion in front of him was not much better, determined as he was to tag along. Of course, he would’ve given up if E-Sumi-Yan had simply stood his ground.

But his pupil knew how to catch his interest with just one simple reminder: Not long ago, A-Towa-Cant bestowed his White Mage crystal upon Orion.

It was an event that was as miraculous as it was puzzling. E-Sumi-Yan had pondered the matter for countless hours, upon hearing the news, enough time to form several theories of his own. Still, he hadn’t gotten to see Orion’s new abilities in action, and—

“Aren’t you curious?” Orion interrupted his thoughts, hitting the bullseye in a way that nearly broken E-Sumi-Yan’s composure. He stood no chance against that sharp eye of his, if he had to endure this the entire afternoon.

E-Sumi-Yan merely sighed, prompting Orion to start beaming before he got even a proper answer. “Very well,” the Padjal groaned, mentally preparing himself for a journey that would challenge his mental fortitude.

Perhaps a detour through the brambles would serve to keep the journey peaceful, he thought to himself with a smile.