#hopefully just one more part of WTT to go! And yeah i've said a big old fck you to the canon

[lambs-rest]

WTT: The Last Pillar To Fall I

Azys Lla’s acidic green and sulphurous yellow skies were roiling with electricity as she waited for Unukalhai, Krile, Urianger and Y’shtola at the ramp to the Triad’s cells. Despite her disagreement with Y’shtola the night before, Granye had slept deeply, dragged right under by the aches in her body, and had woken early and rested. Unukalhai had briefed her in the early hours of the morning and she found herself wondering if the child ever slept. He barely seemed to leave the solar save for food, and even then, she was all but certain that F’lhaminn’s motherly concerns were the only reason he was staying fed.

Granye found that she was looking forward to confronting the final member of the Warring Triad – the Demon, Zurvan – if only because it was the last. After that, she would be happy not to see the Allagan’s floating compound for the next decade.

“Granye!”

She looked to the top of the ramp, startled at the call of her name, only to see the others come running down to meet her.

“Whoa, where’s the fire?”

“Oh, the Facility has been swarmed by Imperial troops!” Krile rushed out, a glimpse of frustration on her face.

“By their standards did we judged them soldier of the VIth.” Urianger offered sagely. “Aye, once more doth Regula van Hydrus stretch forth his hand to seize the forbidden fruits of Allag. And once more have our meticulous wards been swept aside like so many cobwebs…”

She frowned, putting her hand on her hip, but refrained desperately from looking at Unukalhai. She didn’t want to jump to conclusions, and could see no reason why he would repeat his past actions.

“Your meddlesome wards were destroyed from within by the pulsating energies of an eikon.”

They turned to the dark tunnel, hearing the muffled sound of metal steps on Allagan steel. Familiar blue armour pushed past the dark red protective pane of energy that dripped down over the archway, and a glowing orange eyed helmet stared over them.

The others tensed, preparing for battle at the sight of Regula van Hydrus, and grabbed their weapons.

“Nay, put up your weapons and listen.” Regula commanded, folding his arms. When they did not, he continued. “The followers of Zurvan have awakened and they toil to rouse their master, and whilst you stand here and waste time, my soldier are inside the facility risking their lives and their sanity. They have volunteered to face death to prevent Zurvan’s servants from waking him the fullness of his power.”

The Scions eased, sharing startled looks.

“The Demon’s worshippers yet slumbered when we confronted Sophia. Could the tampering of her thralls have been more widespread than we thought?”

“They shared a common enemy – ‘tis not unthinkable that they sought to free all those the Allagans had imprisoned.” Unukalhai answered Y’shtola.

“Yes, yes, the cage doors are open. Now, assuming you understand the gravity of the situation, it is time that I rejoined my men.”

“Surely you know you cannot hope to succeed – the eikon will enslave the minds of any who draw near!” Krile protested.

“Thus did I seek out those with the power to resist his influence.” Regula turned to look at Granye pointedly. “Aid us, and mayhap my men will not perish in vain.”

The surprise was plain upon her face. She barely heard Unukalhai, nor Regula’s response.

Never had she expected an Imperial Legatus, of all Garleans, to desire an alliance, no matter how temporary it was in its intents. Working regularly with Cid and Lucia was different. They were defectors, committed wholly to stopping their homeland’s violent conquests. Having Nero at the Crystal Tower had certainly softened her to the idea of working with more Imperially aligned people… But it was something else entirely for an active member of the Imperial army – more than that, a damned Legatus – to ask for a truce. Not only a truce, but active co-operation.

“Warrior of Light.”

She blinked out of her thoughts at Regula’s stern address.

“Twice you have bested me in combat. Will you now lend me that strength, and stand against our mutual foe?”

Y’shtola scowled. The bristling of her tail was more than enough to tell how she felt. “’Twas opposing your reckless schemes that Ysayle was lost to us. You expect us to simply forgive and forget all that has come before?”

Granye felt sick, the lump in her throat almost choking her as she was unwillingly reminded of the sounds of the Garlean dreadnought’s gunfire and the booming echoes of cracking ice. Of the way the sky glittered and sparkled, like fine snow…

“I expect you to put aside your emotions and use your better judgement! But, of course, I am dealing with savages.” Regula spat.

“Stop.”

Her voice cracked, the word slipping out without her meaning. Regula looked back at her, his arms still folded, waiting.

She swallowed, mouth suddenly dry, the words sticking.

“…Let’s go then.”

His arms dropped, seemingly shocked by her easy response. As Granye stepped forward, making to move past him, Y’shtola called out to her.

“Just like that!?”

She wouldn’t turn to the miqo’te. She couldn’t handle the accusatory scowl she was sure to find, not with the memory of Ysayle so fresh.

“…Ysayle’s course was ‘er own. What was the point o’ her sacrifice if I stopped Thordan, only to slack off with Zurvan ‘cause I was nae chummy with the ones who asked fer me help?”

The lapse of silence was the only answer she needed.

“…Lets not keep yer lads waitin’, Regula.”

He stared after her then turned to follow, striding ahead of her as they descended with swift, steady footsteps.

He led the way through the facility in silence, speaking only as they approached Zurvan’s sector. “After your conduct at the Sea of Clouds I confess, I thought you a jester. I must say, your pragmatism is a welcome surprise in your character.”

She smiled dryly, silent, keeping her confusion of his words to herself. “I ken when I need to do me job. An’…maybe I’m learnin’ when others need to do ‘eir’s.”

As they reached the lift that led to Zurvan’s cell, they hesitated, given pause by a yell.

“Wait! Hold the lift!”

“What the-?” Granye squinted at the silhouettes bouncing on the walls down the corridor. Suddenly, she saw her fellow Echo-bearers come sprinting around the corner.

“Krile!? Unukalhai, what are ye two doin’-?”

“We- We could hardly-! Oh, pardon me.” Krile panted, holding her still-aching rib as she struggled to catch her breath.

“We could not in good conscience leave you to face Zurvan alone.” Unukalhai picked up. “If soldiers of the VIth legion truly have risked their very selves, who are we – two blessed with protection such as you – to run from such a task!?”

Krile pushed herself upright, nodding firmly. “I am hardly one for combat, but I can be of aid to the wounded soldiers.” Granye stared, open-mouthed at their sudden offer and Krile gazed at her, a gleam of determination in her eyes. “We’re not as strong or experienced as you are, but this time we can help. This time we can stand beside you.”

“Krile…” Granye nodded suddenly, fighting back the lump that was stuck in her throat for entirely different emotions this time. “Aye. Aye, let’s go, then!”

They boarded the lift, Regula’s hand just over the console, when-

“Prithee, delay thine departure!”

The four of them looked up to see Urianger and Y’shtola sprinting around the corner. Regula muffled an exasperated sigh.

“Angel!? What’re ye doin’ here!? Neither o’ ye have the Echo!” Granye protested as they joined them on the lift.

“Krile cannot hope to aid all the soldiers on her own.” Y’shtola said simply, shrugging lightly.

“The Demon has not yet awoken, thus are we afforded some small measure of safety.” Urianger added.

“Unless there are any more Scions that I’ve yet to see that wish to join this task, shall we be off?” Regula asked tersely. The longer they wasted, the more his men were put in danger. At the affirmative nods all around, he began the descent.

-

Zurvan’s containment cell was much like the previous two, the eikon chained in the middle, clamped down into the platform itself from the waist down with a light blue aura akin to Dalamud, swirling around it.

“…So, what’s the plan?” Granye asked, stepped to the edge and looking down at the approaching platform.

“We must slay the beastmen before they wake their eikon.”

Y’shtola frowned. “The Demon stirs already. I fear we’ve not the luxury of time.”

“Urianger, Y’shtola and I shall tend to the wounded and see them to the lift. I trust we may leave the thralls to you three?” Krile suggested, glancing at Granye, Unukalhai and Regula, receiving nods.

“’Tis not simply the Demon’s thralls. Like a suckling babe, he feedeth upon the aether siphoned unto him. We must needs deprive him of this sustenance, lest he waken in full and seek freedom.” said Urianger.

“Then we destroy those devices.” Regula pointed at the four pylons that fed into Zurvan’s containment field. “They appear to be the only construct siphoning anything to the eikon.”

The lift came to a halt and they made to step out, weapons drawn and prepared to fight, when Y’shtola called out. “Hold! Witness your soldiers!”

Imperial soldiers had turned on each other, forcing the already scant number of the VIth legion soldiers on the back foot when faced with their former comrades and beastmen both, though the latter seemed satisfied to stay back and guard the pylons, allowing the newly turned Imperials to fight for their cause.

“Even half awake, Zurvan corrupts and converts those who enter his aura… ‘Tis too dangerous for any of you to enter his field of influence.” Unukalhai declared.

“The three of us then.” Krile determined. “Granye, Unukalhai: we rush in together and each disable a generator. We cannot give them the chance to rally a defence!”

“There are four mechanisms by my count. If I am swift, my blade will make short work of the last without risk of corruption.” He turned to Y’shtola and Urianger. “I would have you continue the original plan and see to those men of mine whose minds are intact. They will not give you grief.”

Granye glanced down at Unukalhai, noticing the tenseness in his posture. “Ye got nerves?”

“I know not if my strength will be enough. I am no champion…”

“The battlefield is no place for uncertainty, boy.” Regula cut sharply. “Fate has blessed you with a unique talent and an occasion to use it. Do not waste such a gift.”

Granye found herself smiling. “Aye!” she gripped her bow. “Krile, take the nearest right, I’ll take the back! Regula, nearest left – get out as soon as yer done! Unukalhai, back left pillar’s all yers!”

“Yes!”

“We strike!”

They bolted from the lift as one, splitting up and making for their tasks. Granye struck down the beastman making to stop Krile, sticking an arrow through its neck and sending it down before it could reach the lalafell. Krile’s brief glance of appreciation was overcome with a look of horror.

“Granye, get down!”

She dropped at the warning, twisting on the balls of her feet as air and steel swung through where her head had been. Granye pulled back and aimed, releasing an arrow to shoot up through the jaw of the Meracydian’s skull. It reared back with a gurgle, toppling onto its side, dead before it hit the ground. The platform shook from an explosion on the other side of the room, and Granye took off, making for the now unguarded back pylon.

Venomous Bite. Windbite. Sidewinder.

Three arrows sunk into the base of the pillar where it looked the most unprotected. When the Sidewinder hit, it exploded and she had to shield her eyes. Another explosion went off behind her, sending her stumbling forward a step as the competing blasts buffeted her. Krile’s pillar.

Three blasts, three pillars down. One left to-

A deafening, furious roar erupted right next to her, bellowed throughout the cell and forcing her to drop her bow and clamp her hands over her ears.

Zurvan had awoken.

When the ringing stopped and she looked around, she saw Unukalhai on the opposite side of the platform to her, facing down the last beastman. His pillar was unbroken.

“Unukalhai!”

The cry came from her as soon as the beastman reared back and swung its halberd down on the boy. All he could do was take the blow with his staff, the weapon shattering as the force sent him flying back to hit the ground. She had scarcely brushed her fingers over her bow when the beastman reared back again. There wasn’t time for a shot!

A battlecry sounded, and suddenly a flash of blue was between Unukalhai and the beastman. She barely comprehended the swing that forced it back onto its hind legs before Regula slashed again, and with such force that he knocked the creature back into the pillar. The barrel of his double-edged gunblade glowed before a ceruleum shot took both beastman and pillar down with the final explosion. But her relief was stymied by the sound of shattering glass, and the shards of transparent aether that rained down around them, and the sudden lack of chains around the entombed eikon.

Awake, and loose. Zurvan was loose.

And he was winding up for the mother of all halberd swings.

“REGULA!”

Granye didn’t even bother with her bow, abandoning it and sprinting for the eikon while its back was turned.

Zurvan swung blindingly fast, the enormous halberd cleaving through the air with a great rush. Regula scarcely had the time to bring his blade around to block the strike before it carved him in two. The eikon roared, angered by his defiance and heat radiated off the Demon’s body, as flakes of aether burst of Granye’s.

“OVER ‘ERE, YOU SON OF A BITCH!”

Zurvan threw his head back and howled in pain as Granye crashed her fists into the small of his back. Zurvan struggled, thrashing the enormous weapon about wildly as he howled. Granye pummelled him a few more times for good measure before she vaulted herself up to grab the red plating of his armour.

“E’RYONE, OUT!” she shouted as she climbed, hanging onto the flailing eikon with all her might, dragging herself up to its neck.

Regula echoed her command. “FULL RETREAT, NOW!” He wasted no time in sheathing his blade and running for the lift, scooping up Unukalhai under his arm as he went.

Though Unukalhai was unceremoniously dropped onto the lift and Regula returned to help Y’shtola haul one of his men on board, the boy couldn’t tear his eyes from Zurvan, and the Warrior who now clung to the back of his helmet.

“G-Granye!” His call was barely a wheeze, still winded from the blow that had rattled him to the bone. Suddenly Krile was it his side, telling him to be still, checking him for injuries. He tried to wave her hand away. “We- We have to help her! Ah!”

“Sit still! You’ve at least two broken ribs and won’t be helping anyone.”

Regula set his last man on the lift and called back to Granye. “Fall back, Warrior!”

Zurvan reached up with a furious growl and swiped at the back of his head until he snagged her. Granye was hurled to the floor with a cry of pain, hitting the ground like a ragdoll.

“Granye!” Y’shtola almost ran off the lift to reach her, only to be held back by Urianger’s swift action to block her. “Urianger!?”

“Zurvan’s influence waxes to fullness. Thy desire to help would cause but more harm, should thee fall victim.”

Y’shtola relented, stepping back and grinding her teeth, tail flicking in agitation.

-

Granye! Granye!

A world of white bloomed over her vision, whiter than snow. Her body throbbed as though it had been bruised all over. The heat of pain radiated over her entire being. She wanted to lie still, to sit there until the tang of copper on the back of her tongue disappeared and her breaths didn’t feel so short and tight.

“GRANYE!”

Colour bled into view, the world coming back to life as the pain went from blinding to numbing. She gingerly rolled herself up onto her elbow, tasting the blood in her mouth and spitting it out with a grimace. When she picked herself off the ground, breaths shallow and sharp, her vision danced before settling back to normal as she hunched. She could hear the Scions calling her to board the lift so they could leave, but above them she could still hear the ringing shout of the soul around her neck.

With a deep, steady breath, she stood tall from her slouch and readjusted her grip on the blazing ifrit-fashioned Hellfire Claws over her fists, keeping her position between Zurvan and the lift.

“Get a move on, the lot o’ ye!”

“You’re hurt!” It was Unukalhai who protested.

She turned her head, fixing her gold eye on them. The Scions were all staring, imploring her to go back up with them. She looked at Regula. “Go!”

“Granye-!”

Zurvan roared again, breath hot and halberd ready to swing.

“GO!”

Regula slammed the controls, sending the lift back up at a rocketing pace. She could hear their outraged shouting at the Legatus as they were whisked away, voices growing distant and leaving her alone with the Demon, his blade burning a fiery red, his eyes as crimson as his plating as he shook off the last dregs of his slumber for good.

“…You knew he would not sleep again.”

“Aye. Prayers o’ the faithful do wonders, ‘specially in ‘eir final moments.” She answered softly, a little smirk on her face. “Yer becomin’ somethin’ of a good luck charm, darlin’!”

Lahabrea groaned in disgust.

——————————

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