#her work restoring the Great Gubal Library

[kannedia]

Rumour has it that, following her recent encounters with the Voidsent of the Thirteenth, Asel has been working on an alchemical breakthrough of great significance. Some say it is a tincture that will cure blindness and myopia; others that it is an oil that, when rubbed into the skin, will make one immune to the hottest of flames. But from what I have heard, she has concocted a liquid diffusion of primordial light that may be thrown over a Voidsent to melt it away like a candle in a furnace. Whatever she has discovered, it is certain to make her very wealthy once she markets it...

Hear any good rumors?

Asel's eyes widened, the book she had been reading slipping from her grasp.

"What." She blurted out before covering her mouth with her hand. She had heard that spending too much time in the library would lead to peculiar rumours, but that was a lot. I almost made her wonder what tales were going around about Matoya's work.

"No. Gods, no." Asel sighed as she gently picked up the dropped book and carefully looked it over for damage. "I've mostly been studying and er... basic maintenance of the library." She doesn't mention that the maintenance is necessary because she has moved into the building.

"I hope to better help my fellow Scions, not cause them more work."

Fun fact(?): This reminds me of an idea I was working on back when I misunderstood how Y'shtola's aether sight worked.

The idea was based on how red magic- the aetheric accelerator aspect, to be more precise. I, and in turn Asel, believed that such a premise could be harnessed to lighten the strain of the aether sight technique and lengthen Y'shtola's lifespan.

[onwesterlywinds]

Edge Marbrand: So how did you end up meeting up with your dad? Ashelia Riot: He just stopped by, early in the morning. Edge Marbrand: He knew how to find you? Ashelia Riot: He'd meant to return to Ala Mhigo to report on the mission he'd received from the Empire. But he ran into Bernard of all people, just at the very end of the East Shroud. Edge Marbrand: Something tells me that wasn't a coincidence. Knowing Bernard. Ashelia Riot: Oh, I agree. Edge Marbrand: So you two talked more? Ashelia Riot: We did. We had a full breakfast over coffee. Edge Marbrand watches Drace and Anastasis circle each other playfully for a time before turning back to Ashelia Riot. Ashelia Riot: It was bizarre how... normal it all was.

Edge Marbrand: Does your mother know? Ashelia Riot: I still haven't been able to get in contact with her. Edge Marbrand: That’s concerning. Did you find out why Ashley is with the Empire? Ashelia Riot: Even he isn't entirely certain. His memories are... Ashelia Riot: The Garleans tampered with his memories. Edge Marbrand looks at Ashelia Riot in surprise. Edge Marbrand: They can do that? Ashelia Riot: Apparently so. He remembers things that never happened. He remembers... me and my mother dying. Edge Marbrand sighs. Edge Marbrand: If that's his excuse for not seeing you all these years... I guess it's a decent one. Edge Marbrand: But if he's still with the Empire, is it a a good idea to let him stay at the Sandsea? Ashelia Riot shakes her head. Ashelia Riot: Meeting with Bernard helped him see reason. And me, I think. He always did think that there was something wrong, but he could never put his finger on it. After speaking with me, he won’t be going back. Edge Marbrand: Hm. Well... I've no objections, as long as it's what you want. Ashelia Riot: But I did feel it was important to ask you. Yes, it’s my father and my house, but... he's your family as well. Edge Marbrand smiles. Edge Marbrand: As long as I still get to give him a good punch. Maybe that'll help restore some of his memories. Ashelia Riot: I haven't told him to expect it. You laugh at Edge Marbrand. Edge Marbrand beams with delight at you. Ashelia Riot: But we were... able to talk about our Echo. Edge Marbrand: How did that go? Ashelia Riot: The way I remember it, he saved my life during the fall of Ala Mhigo. I thought I had imagined it all. But he gave me a kiss on the forehead, and... we think that might have been when it started. Edge Marbrand: I didn't know you were getting visions even when you were that young. Ashelia Riot: Most in Little Ala Mhigo thought it to be a manifestation of some sort of stress. Only my mother knew differently. Edge Marbrand: I wonder if the visions will stop now that you've found each other. Or if Hydaelyn has another purpose in mind for you two... Ashelia Riot: We... tried to reenact the kiss he gave me, to see if it would turn the Echo off. That didn't work. But it's been... calmer these past few days. Much less stressful. Ashelia Riot: And talking with him, he's never seen anything private, whether between us or between me and anyone else. Just as I've never seen him in such a moment. Thank the gods. Edge Marbrand sighs with relief at that. Edge Marbrand: Well. I, uh, can't say the same about my Echo... Ashelia Riot: Our guess is that the connection is strongest when one of us is harnessing the aether, or in battle, or- Ashelia Riot senses something amiss with Edge Marbrand. Ashelia Riot: Now, Azionne I would be fine with, but Granny?! Ashelia Riot: And- gods, so that's why Gogo hasn't made eye contact with me in moons! Edge Marbrand’s face turns green. Edge Marbrand: Oh, no, no, no! Edge Marbrand: It's strange, but it only seems to work one way! I'm the only one who can “visit” all of them, I think. Ashelia Riot sighs as well. Edge Marbrand: We've been trying to figure out how it's manifesting for each of us. And it’s all different. Sometimes... I'll close my eyes, and if one of them crosses my mind, I'll suddenly be right there in front of them. And they can see me, and we can talk. Even touch. I can't control it. None of us really like it. Edge Marbrand closes his eyes. Edge Marbrand: Hey, Baithin... Glad to see you doing some of the research again. My eyes still hurt from the bells I spent in that book. Edge Marbrand is talking and doesn't even know if Ashe can hear him; he still feels like he's both at the Burning Wall and in the Sandsea's library at once. Ashelia Riot smiles at Edge Marbrand. Ashelia Riot: ...Tell Baithin to do some of his own damned reading. Edge Marbrand: Ashe says hi. We're all the way at the Burning Wall. And, erm, she says you need to do your own damned reading. Her words. Ashelia Riot: Aaand what does he have to say to that? Edge Marbrand chuckles and opens his eyes. Edge Marbrand: He made a comment about me slacking off. Next he's going to send me to the Great Gubal Library, whatever that is. Ashelia Riot: ...Now there's an idea. The Sharlayans would have more than enough tomes on the workings of the Echo. Edge Marbrand: Granny thinks that once we master our gift, we'd be unstoppable. But the thought scared even her. Edge Marbrand: I don't want to be “unstoppable.” Strong, yes, but not that. Ashelia Riot: I can see why. Rhalgr knows I'm terrified by my own “gifts.” Edge Marbrand: You should meet Siz'ir sometime. He's the only one of them who hasn't met you. And now they all feel like extensions of myself, in a way, so it only feels right. Ashelia Riot nods to Edge Marbrand. Edge Marbrand: No version of the Echo has been like ours, it seems. And I've read about many examples already. One I found similar to yours - two people sharing a connection. Palom and Porom, Sharlayan mages from many ages ago, and twins. So perhaps yours is a family thing. Ashelia Riot: It's highly possible. Edge Marbrand: They were said to be able to know what the other was thinking, visit each other in dreams, even combine their magicks together for powerful spells. Ashelia Riot: That does sound like what we both have, save the magicks. Ashelia Riot is lost in thought. Edge Marbrand: I can't seem to look into the past, like most versions of the Echo do. A woman named Ellone named the Echo for that ability, years back. She had it, too. Ashelia Riot: It seems your research is leading somewhere! Edge Marbrand smirks. Edge Marbrand: See how much I'm learning? I guess I can be bookish too. Ashelia Riot: I had no doubt of it. You're still the better reader of us both. Edge Marbrand: Only for now! Ashelia Riot takes hold of Edge Marbrand’s hand. Edge Marbrand: One other thing... Ashelia Riot: Yes? Edge Marbrand: The other day, Granny was talking with Sylv, Bull, and a few others. And I visited. Sylv mentioned plans regarding Ala Mhigo? Edge Marbrand: She seemed excited to liberate it. Ashelia Riot sighs. Ashelia Riot: Sylvan is... enthusiastic, I'll give her that. But it’s a matter that can’t be discussed in such simple terms. It will take no end of thorough planning. Edge Marbrand leans forward. Edge Marbrand: So we're moving forward with that? It's actually something on the horizon? Ashelia Riot: It may soon be time. But... the Resistance's movements are troubling. Edge Marbrand's jaw drops open. Edge Marbrand: How so? Ashelia Riot: I hear nothing from Sairsel in moons, and then my mother? Edge Marbrand: We have people with connections, don't we? Maybe we could stick our noses into Resistance dealings and see what we can learn. Ashelia Riot: That may be an option. Ashelia Riot: ...Is it strange to say I can feel us getting closer? Edge Marbrand: How so? Because I think I feel the same. Ashelia Riot: I don't know. It's like... an old scent on the wind. Or maybe it's simply the Echo giving me premonitions. Ashelia Riot: But I will not let the faintest chance slip by. Not if it means liberating Ala Mhigo. Ashelia Riot: No matter what happens, Edge, we'll be together. Edge Marbrand: I wish my Echo connected me to you instead of everyone else. Edge Marbrand: We've both known the day would come. All this time. It's like... I can't imagine my future with you past whatever may happen in Ala Mhigo sometimes. Ashelia Riot: Really? I can imagine us settling down in Limsa somewhere. You becoming an old sailor, me taking up a nice quiet hobby like knitting... Ashelia Riot smirks confidently at Edge Marbrand. Edge Marbrand chuckles. Edge Marbrand: Who are you and what have you done with my wife? Ashelia Riot leans in for another kiss. Edge Marbrand returns it happily.