#which changes the miqo face and she just :) disappeared :)

[scionshtola]

i think 2025 is the year i give up gpose

[starsweetiie]

Ref dropping for Hoshi's various appearances.

Hoshi has used many faces throughout the Main Story and thus there are rumors of there being more than one Warrior of Light in many places.

Just for fun, below are refs for the appearances he's used and when. And what they're currently known/famous/infamous? for.

Warning long image-heavy Post lol

WARRIORS OF LIGHT

Hoshi 1.0

Miqo(M) BLM, BLU ARR to Pre-Stormblood

Doesn't use this appearance anymore.

The OG. As Hoshi stopped using this appearance, their infamy has started to wane somewhat but they were the OG Warrior of Light that saved everyone, etc.

People in the city-states still comment on how Hoshi 'has the same name' as him which he finds pretty funny.

??? (Name unknown)

Miqo(F) Dark Knight, Warrior All of Stormblood

Still uses this appearance sometimes. Does not creature shift when using.

Hoshi's mental breakdown catgirl era. Does not have a name. She is known in most of the Stormblood regions for being unnaturally strong, yet excessively violent and almost never speaking.

Hoshi did not exclusively use this appearance but used it a large amount of the time, especially during fights. The rest of the time, he used a mix of some other appearances.

If he uses this appearance currently, it's usually when he's in an especially bad and violent mood. He will introduce/identify himself as Hoshi if asked.

Aura/Rora

Au ra(F) Red Mage, Black Mage, Summoner Four Lords - Mid-Shadowbringers

Mental stress means Hoshi changes appearance again. And, yes, he literally just called himself Aura. Though, he did tell others that the name was a lie.

Somewhat more talkative but was notably very cynical and sassy at the time. Known for being an exceptionally powerful mage, but a little too enthusiastic about the void and other forbidden things.

Hoshi uses this appearance still and does creature shift occasionally using it.

Will introduce himself as Hoshi when re-meeting or meeting new people.

Hoshi

Viera(M) Fatale (BLU+RPR), BLM Mid-Shadowbringers (pre-light poisoning)

Bunny boy. Basically the same as his current appearance minus pink streaks and white freckles which are a result of his light poisoning.

Known mostly in locations on the First for his usual things: being loud, annoying, illegal and gay. And saving everyone, probably.

He took this appearance because he felt comfortable in it and kept it because Emet-Selch seemed very displeased by it. He uses creature shifting as his main fighting ability.

Hoshi

Vi'qote(Viera+Miqo'te)(M) Fatale (BLU+RPR) Mid-Shadowbringers (post-light poisoning) to current

Not pictured: big fluffy miqo'te tail. It's literally just there to be cute and fluffy.

As above but with hair streaks and light freckles. The streaks in his hair/ears are actually white but he dyes them because pink is cute. It's apparently not something he can make go away with his shifting because it still appears when he shifts, whether into other people or animals.

Lilira Lira

Lalafel(F) Scholar, Sage Various

No reason for this appearance other than sometimes Hoshi wants to be small and bite people's ankles and kick their shins.

Loud and grumpy and swears a lot. Very "I'm a healer, but-" and definitely does carry a gun for real. Does not creature shift with this appearance.

Again, will re-introduce himself properly to people now.

OTHERS

Yvette Feveux

Elezen(F) Botanist, Gleaner Pre-ARR

Not storyline important but ship important so!!!!!

Appearance Hoshi took for a job, posing as a gleaner in Sharlayan. It was here that he technically first met Erenville as they worked together before she inevitably disappeared.

Hoshi didn't bother changing his personality and thus they acted exactly the same which is why it was so easy for Erenville to ascertain Hoshi's identity when they met again. Hella called out.

Hoshi does not use this appearance anymore.

[nym-ia]

Adroit (#8) - FFXIV Write 2021

Length: 1,298 words

Warnings: Small mention of blood

Time Period: ??? (undetermined for now)

Character(s):

“A’venshi, are you sure we should be doing this?”

The Xaela girl followed extremely close behind her Seeker companion, her large dragon-like tail tucked between her legs as they walked. She nervously scanned the area, every step making her more and more anxious.

A’venshi turned a little, allowing Epheldene to see her hands. “It’s a simple mission, Epheldene,” she signed, her eyes sparkling with reassurance. “Besides, it’s the first mission Red has given to Primi. She wouldn’t put her or us in danger.”

Epheldene averted her gaze, looking out to the sea of the Bloodshore. They’d just recently stepped into the sand, walking along one of the many beaches of Eastern La Noscea. The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon, and the waves were gentle with barely more than a light breeze carrying them to shore. Even in such an atmosphere of relaxation, the Au Ra could hardly find it within herself to feel calm.

“C’mon, c’mon! I heard it was sighted just over this way!” The young blonde Miqo shouted from many yalms away as she’d excitedly run ahead, hoping to find their prey first.

“Shouldn’t we at least have a tank or something? Couldn’t we have invited Sylvian?” The Xaela sank further behind her friend as though she were trying to hide.

“I don’t think this is as scary as you think it is,” she signed with a sigh.

Before long, the group had made it more than halfway across the beach, and it was starting to become apparent that their quarry was missing. Primi began to lose the energy that a new adventure was giving her, and she eventually fell back enough to walk side-by-side with the other two. Epheldene quietly exhaled, relieved that their party may come to an end, hopeful that they won’t try again another day.

“Perhaps we should head back,” A’venshi was slow with her hand movements, showing some remorse as she gently let down the younger Miqo. “I’m sorry, Primi. But there’s always next time.”

The Keeper’s ears drooped, her normally swishing tail lying listless behind her. “Okay…” she didn’t even try to hide her disappointment. The group slowed to a stop, taking in the beach air before they would decide to turn around and head home.

As they stood there, silently enjoying the beach as the civilians who begged they’d take this quest would be doing if not for the supposed monster terrorizing them, the group heard a sudden, extraordinarily loud THUM, a misty shower of seawater falling upon them in the next moment. All three of them slowly turned around, each of their eyes being greeted by a massive, horrifying crab monster - and it appeared to be pissed. It instantly dropped an enormous claw down on the beach, Primi just barely getting out of the way and A’venshi having to jump onto Epheldene to get them both clear of the attack.

“There it is! There it is!” Primi ecstatically jumped up and down, clapping her hands as the monster known as Cancer slowly lifted its claw and drew it back, making its next move apparent.

“Primi, focus!” A’venshi signed urgently before grabbing her chakrams from her waist, Epheldene moaning in fear while still in the sand beside her.

“Don’t worry, I got this!” The Keeper Miqo swiftly took her Summoning book from her hip, flipping it open and calling forth Ifrit as her egi in one smooth motion. She crouched down, focusing on writing some longform spell on the pages as her summon began its assault. Cancer unleashed a horrifying swipe onto the egi, crashing its claw into the beach and sending a wave of sand into the air. Ifrit prevailed, keeping up its fiery onslaught with its talons as Primi finished her command. In a series of explosive attacks, Ifrit unleashed its full power onto the monster before it suddenly disappeared, and just as quickly an enormous creature the likes of which no one had ever seen appeared behind the egi’s conjurer.

An elated smile found its way to the youth’s face as she let loose an unrelenting flurry of attacks, each coming from the dragon-like being floating behind her. Explosive beams of light encompassed the monster, each fantastical burst of energy creating a deafening roar and blinding glow. The ruthless bombardment seemed never-ending and only intensified with each passing moment, the force of her attack blowing back the sea and knocking her friends further and further away. Many minutes of this assault passed before Primi finally lifted her book in front of her, placing her free hand over it and closing her eyes. A circle of light appeared beneath her, lifting her hair and clothing ever so slightly, and when she opened her eyes, they emitted a pure white light. “Hhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!” She began with a growl that evolved into a yell as the ground began ferociously trembling, unleashing a final, impossibly bright beam of light that released an echoing screech before a deep boom as it imploded her target from the inside out.

One last flash of white light, and afterwards all that remained to be seen was billowing smoke surrounding the entire area. Everyone was still as it dissipated, save for Primi who brought her hand to her mouth to cough.

Once it was possible to see again, it was apparent that nothing but a small slab of Cancer’s carapace, located in the center of a decently large crater, remained. A short while later, the water returned to the shore, the waves creating a pool in the rounded blemish in the sand.

A’venshi and Epheldene sat some yalms away, having been thrown to the ground from the beginning of the attack, initiated by the youth they were initially escorting.

“Huh,” The Seeker finally stopped holding her breath. She sat up and turned back towards Epheldene. “This mission was simpler than I thought,” her hands trembled as she signed.

The Xaela sat there, slack-jawed and completely frozen. She thought back to all the times her beloved Ura would pick a fight with that teenager standing victorious before them. She really thought the elder was going easy on her like a mentor, but now she believed it was possible they were equal rivals.

Primi carefully stepped down into the crater to retrieve the carapace as proof that the beach was now safe. She triumphantly lifted it into the air, shouting back to her friends, “See, I told you I had it!”

A’venshi pushed herself up, though her legs felt a bit like jelly. She dusted herself off before offering a hand to Epheldene, who used the help to get up but still appeared completely dumbfounded. The young Miqo’te ran over to them, proudly presenting what she’d earned. A’venshi smiled at her, though her concern still showed on her brow, and she rubbed the top of Primi’s head as a show of her pride in the youth.

The Keeper beamed up at the two of them, and suddenly Epheldene was snapped from her stupor. “Primi, your mouth…”

A’venshi looked from Epheldene back to the hero of the day, and she gasped lightly as they both watched her wipe the blood from her lips with the back of her hand, her expression not changing as she looked at it.

“It’s okay! C’mon, let’s go! I wanna show Red and Nylos what I got!” She turned and started running away from them, but the pair remained standing there still. They looked at each other for a moment, and then back to her as she got further away. The sound of the ocean’s waves became louder as the wind picked up, and they waited a few laps, quiet in contemplation before they resolved to follow her and head home.

It would make for quite the story, after all.

[faelune-home]

A Blade of Fallen Petals

(A/N: Sometimes it’s the major story NPCs, and sometimes its the smaller ones. They were only around for so long, but their death still hits like a brick. ;-;

That’s Wilred here. A little story about missing him, and coping with that. I used Lyse as a bouncing off NPC for miqo!Fu partly due to location (since the mini questline that acknowledges him and gives him a resting place in Stormblood goes into the Lochs) but also I find Lyse an interesting character to discuss death, just because for as much as its not presented in game, she’s lost a lot. She’s probably quite familiar with it.

I want to write more of these NPC remembrance stories, and I’ve already done a few prior - one for Minfilia, and two as part of FFXIV Write 2020, both actually featuring Lyse incidentally - but I’d like to do more.

Didn’t do too much editing after I finished writing, so apologies for any iffy errors.

@ffxiv-writers)

Cracking bones pierced the air as Lyse stretched, finally freed from the stuffiness of the castle meeting room. It felt like she’d been up and moving and chatting since dawn had broken, but she could rest at last. Spying the sun in the sky, seeing it just hovering above the walls of the Quarter, she let out a breath of relief. It would be nearing meal time, and she was starving. And she’d have to consider collecting a plate for Fordola as well…

“Well well, if it ain’t Lyse? I figured you’d be busy till sundown,” a voice called, snapping the woman from her thoughts. Gundobald approached with a wave, an affable smile on his face, which she gladly returned.

“It’s getting close enough though, isn’t it? So technically I have been,” she countered, nodding in the direction of the lowering star. “But it’s good to see you, especially after so long.”

“Likewise, lass, likewise. And it's good to be back in Ala Mhigo, even if it's only for a day,” the elder man hummed contentedly, looking around the city with pride in his eyes. Lyse couldn’t help but smile at his reaction.

“Right, you said you’d stay behind for those that couldn’t make the trip,” she mused, remembering the arrangement one of her soldiers - his own nephew - had made to transport the Ala Mhigans home, “So what brings you all the way here then? Just seeing the sights? Taking back stories for the older folk back in Thanalan?”

Gundobald tilted his head. “Aye, I suppose I could do that for them. Rhalgr knows even in their last few days, everyone back in Little Ala Mhigo gains a bit of new life being reminded that their home is free now.” Then he shook his head. “But that wasn’t the main reason I came. It was to pay some respects to some old comrades. The ones that couldn’t be here even to hear the news.”

Lyse lowered her head upon hearing this. “I see. I did learn about the old mercenary monument up north. Probably still fitting for everyone else that uh...passed beyond these lands.” Looking back at him, she asked, “So you’re returning home now? Would you like an escort?”

“Nah, I’m not so enfeebled I can’t handle myself on the return trip,” the highlander shook his head, though there was a friendly glint in his eye as he said it, “Better to keep your men here where they’re needed more, Commander. But if you want, you could send someone to go check on the Scions’ Warrior girl by the monument.”

At this, the woman perked up. “Fufu is here? There, I mean?”

“Aye, I figured you would’ve known, that she would’ve told you. She was up there before I arrived, and she’s still there now.” Lyse shook her head, surprise still colouring her features. Gundobald frowned, but he didn’t sound worried when he added, “Well, I’ll let you look into that on your own. Suppose you’ve been so busy you could do with a catch up with your friend. I’ll get started on my way back.”

He waved, wandering off down the cobbled streets, leaving a pondering Lyse to her thoughts.

~*~*~

The woman didn’t wait long before making the decision to venture to the old tomb, leaving behind an order to deliver food to the resistance’s prisoner should Lyse not return in time to do it herself. A bread roll haphazardly stuffed in her own month would do her until then.

The sky was turning a shade of purple by the time she reached the monument, the clouds painted orange and pink in the fading sunlight. A sole figure sat on the quickly chilling stone in front of the pillar, the only other source of light coming from a small lantern mounted on the saddle of a sleeping chocobo nearby.

“Hey,” Lyse called out, making the miqo’te jump and spin around. A hand hovered over the chakram by her waist, however Fufu quickly relaxed at the sight of her old friend. Her flickering tail settled.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” Fufu said as Lyse joined her. The hyur gave the Scion a friendly nudge, lightly scolding her by saying, “Of course you weren’t, ‘cos you never even told me you were here.”

The miqo’te winced, a sheepish smile on her face. “I’m sorry. In my defense I did show up at the palace gates, and I thought about it, but everyone said you were busy pretty much all day. They offered to take a message, but I didn’t want to interrupt or make you take time out if you were doing important stuff.”

“You’re never interrupting,” Lyse chucked, “I’ll always be happy to make time for you or the other Scions if I can. If anything,” she groaned, rolling her shoulder, both girls wincing at the loud crack it let out, “I’d appreciate having an excuse to take a break.”

Fufu nodded. “Alright then, noted.” Both women fell into a comfortable silence, enjoying the quiet as night fell, the sounds of the salt waves lapping at the shore behind them, and Fufu’s noble bird snoring softly next to them, the lantern swinging gently on its hook with each breath the chocobo took. Their faint shadows shifted ever so slightly against the stone structure.

“Who are you here for?” Lyse finally asked, the question having been sitting on her tongue since she’d arrived. Fufu didn’t answer immediately, but Lyse didn’t expect her to. In the meantime she added, “I met Gundobald in the Quarter, he said he came here with you. Or more like you arranged to meet here, I suppose, he said you were already here when he arrived from Little Ala Mhigo.”

Fufu’s tail twitched, managing to brush against the hyuran’s arm.

“Someone I knew once.” Was all she said.

“Did I know them?”

“...Kinda.”

They sat again, Lyse willing to wait for her friend to talk, or even if she didn’t at all. But after a moment, Fufu took in a breath.

“You remember one of the first reports I wrote on my own? For one of my first missions without another Scion watching me.” With a sly smile and a side eye toward her friend, she added, “After the whole thing with the sylphs.”

Lyse inadvertently spluttered as she burst out laughing. “Oh gods! I remember that! Your penmanship was awful, and it was so plain!” 

Lyse was already near falling to the floor from hysterics, however the miqo’te shoved the other woman over with an exaggerated pout all the same, though unable to hide the amusement in her voice as she argued, “Excuse you, I’d never done much writing before then, never mind for a fancy mission report. And what am I supposed to even put in one? ‘Went to Little Ala Mhigo, nobody liked me, I had to save some kids from the amalj’aa’? And it's not like you or Papalymo or anybody else was around to help me write it.”

“I kno- gods,” the hyuran gasped, finally trying to bring her laughter to an end. Given their location, things were sure to take a turn, even if Fufu had started the moment of levity. Indeed the woman in question had turned sombre once more. Lyse coughed, trying to stem her chuckles. “Alright, I’m done.” 

Another breath out to calm herself, then Lyse said, “I mean, really, it was plain, but that’s fine. It did the job it was meant to do - say what happened, what you did - and you were still new to it all. And teaching you wouldn’t have helped, you probably don’t need to write those anymore. So nothing to dwell on anymore. Right?” Fufu shot her a grateful look. Then she looked up at the stone beacon in front of them.

“Well, one of those kids involved in that whole thing, he’s here now.” Lyse flinched, eyes glancing up at the tomb.

“The one that didn’t die in the amalj’aa attack...but he died later as a Brave,” Fufu said, her face eerily straight, yet her eyes already beginning to water. Lyse herself found her eyes drifting to the foggy horizon, a faint memory of a bright eyed, hopeful looking young man dressed in blue coming to mind.

“His name was Wilred,” the miqo’te added without prompt, “And he meant every word of the Braves’ original creed.”

She shook her head, letting out a shaky breath. “I know a few of the folk that believed in what the Braves were meant to be still stuck with the Scions after that whole mess, but Godsdammit, I wish he could’ve been there as well. He just disappeared one day and then h-he was...he’d been left to rot in Urth’s Fount! He d-didn’t deserve that, h-he…”

Her words caught in her throat, and despite pressing her hands against her eyes to stem the oncoming flood, a sob broke from the warrior. Without hesitation, Lyse pulled the miqo’te into her shoulder, letting her friend weep freely. Fufu’s chocobo nearby stirred, letting out a small chirp at the sound of its mistress’ crying. A glance from the monk let the bird settle again, although the tenseness in its haunches betrayed its worry.

“He should’ve been here, I know,” Lyse mumbled gently, rocking to try and calm the other woman. She bit her lip, trying to think of what she could say to soothe her friend, but coming up short. She didn’t know the boy that well, only recognising him as a passing face in the Rising Stones...and one that eventually stopped showing up.

“It’s more than that,” Fufu hiccuped, lifting her head. Her eyes were already red raw. “He started out so angry and desperate, desperate enough for the ascians to notice him and his friends and...and he was the only one to make it out alive. And that changed him, and he wanted to do good after that. And the Braves were supposed to be his second chance to do that and-- By the Twelve, Lyse, he was younger than us.” Her voice cracked, and Lyse winced.

Still, the woman leaned her head forward against the other’s in a reassuring gesture. Fufu sniffed.

“I know I can’t go back and change things. I can wish and hope and say what I could’ve done instead - and I wish I’d watched him more now, I wish I’d taken Riol worries to heart, and I wish we’d never crossed paths with Ilberd, that I had cut him down where he stood if I knew then what I do now - but I know that won’t change anything about what happened before.” She let out a heavy sigh after her rant, finally seeming to calm. “I wish for a lot of things Lyse.”

“Me too.”

“I wish he had a chance.”

“I know. I wish all the time that Papalymo was still here to help me. He’d keep the resistance in line better than I could.” At that, the keeper chuckled.

Another sniff. “It’s moments like this...losing people I feel like I could’ve saved, it makes me try harder. So I don’t have to lose anyone else. So normal people can have a chance after hardship.”

“For those we have lost?” Lyse said, a small smile on her lips. Fufu smiled back, nodding.

“I wish they didn’t have to die, but I won’t let their deaths be in vain. But...but I guess it all feels like so much sometimes. And I need to be alone to deal with it. I know I could stay with the other Scions and they wouldn’t judge me for it, but just every now and then...” She trailed off.

“I get that,” the hyuran chuckled, ruffling Fufu’s hair, “And that’s fine, good even. It shows that you care. That the whole Warrior of Light title isn’t just for show. Better that than coming across like some soulless killing machine.” 

“I’m proud of what I do, since I can help so many people, but sometimes it can feel like a weight,” Fufu pouted. 

Lyse sighed. “I know the feeling.”

The highlander stood, her knees cracking, offering a hand to Fufu as well. The chocobo finally woke after a whistle from its rider, stumbling to its feet.

“We’ll go back to the Quarter together, and you can spend the night with me. I can send a soldier or call Tataru’s linkshell to let the Scions know,” Lyse suggested. Too worn down by her emotional outburst to argue, Fufu nodded, the idea sounding appealing at that.

“And in future,” the woman continued, “if you come here again, I insist you let me know. I won’t let you sit here on your own. This sort of thing is better with a little support, isn’t it?”

Fufu looked up at the stars above, the shimmering dots reflecting in her wide watery eyes. She smiled, looking back at her friend.

“I’d appreciate that.”

[inviouswriting]

Forgiveness

I have three more installments for the Kivera AU. Then I’ll bring that side story to an end.

Kivera and Ardbert. So mentions of the polyship.

Characters mentioned.

Meeps/Fae - @meepsthemiqo

Shuri - @maiden-born-in-snow

Ardbert had thought he had ruined his chances with her, he had said things which were not easily forgiven. When Divinity approached him, telling him Kivera wants to finally see him. He was surprised she would give him the time of day, after her cold shoulder treatment the pass few weeks.

Ardbert was told a location to go, on the outskirts of a Gridania, a secluded spot, perfect for a creature of the night. When he sees Kivera sitting overlooking the water as it flowed. He is reminded of how lucky he was, she is someone who could have killed him without a second thought. She commands respect and rightfully so, he felt her power run through him. Had she intended to kill him, he would not be there.

Kivera has an ear turned towards him, she knows he is there, but hasn’t decided to look his way yet. The former warrior of light, sensed unease within her. Like they were just putting off another inevitable. She avoided him throughout her being in the house, anytime he would enter a room, she’d disappear without a second thought. Right now he feels his voice stuck in his throat, he starts with what he should say.

“I’m so-”

“Do not apologize.” Kivera’s voice is barely a hiss. 

“You have nothing to apologize for, you merely defended the defenseless.” Kivera tucks her knees into herself, making herself smaller.

“Then let me apologize for my words. I said things that hurt. Divinity explained.” He hears her scoff under her breath. 

“She is like me, she has been through as much as I have. I accept that apology. You were an idiot the moment you said them.” He sees a glare turned towards him.

“If you are ever careless with your tongue again. I will make sure to drag you to Hell myself.” Ardbert knew she was half serious, the tease in her voice hid her true intent.

“If I ever do, I’ll go willingly.” He sees her gaze soften, taking an invitation to approach her, there was a sensation in the air that kept him from being directly next to her. He took it as warning she did not want him that close yet.

“Cid, I handled him correct. He isn’t a fighter. So scaring him was easier. G’raha Tia, I handled him poorly. I could have done the same as Cid. Scare him without the grand display.” Kivera muses aloud, wanting to turn back the clock and redo that encounter. There were those of the Scion’s terrified of her now, they should be. They trespassed in her world.

“I owe you an apology myself, for my own careless words.” Kivera directs it to him.

“We were both fired up. Mine were worse. I took jabs like that many times from Scions and in The First.” Kivera raises her head to look at him now. 

“What of Meeps in this?” He asks her, wanting to know if it was the miqo that set her on the path.

“Fae, is ruled be her grief, while Meeps just wants to forget it. What she did not understand when we spoke is, that worlds, The First’s G’raha Tia the Crystal Exarch is dead. Both he and Elidibus are dead. This world’s G’raha Tia, is not dead. His life is already set in motion, just the circumstances changed. The path that lead to his death is no longer the reality. There is no Zodiark, nor Hades and Elidibus to bring that impending doom and calamity.” Kivera rambles more than really talking, Ardbert understands it.

“Yet the Exarch’s memories are implanted into the current G’raha.” He adds to her ramblings.

“Of which he sacrificed the memories of his former self’s memories from there. It’s complicated, but the payment was the same. The memories that made no sense. Like which Hecate’s were taken so Kiya could exist without the chance of losing herself because of what was her former life in Amaurot.” Kivera folds her arms.

“In short, there was no need for the future that was set in motion, for their memories to stay the same.” Ardbert asks, he was confused.

“Like that, it’s why humans shouldn’t tread in the space of time and death. My rulership. Matters of the Underworld to make sure it flows smooth.” Ardbert understood that one. He had moved closer to her, and Kivera gets up to be in front of him. He sees her face is more solemn about something.

“I am about to show you, what I hid during the first showing. There are sides of me not meant for everyone. Shuri and Estinien accepted them. They both know and bore witness to these memories. I will warn you, if you should deny these, I will never open up to you again, and our relationship shall end here.” Ardbert is taken aback by her words, understanding that what she shares next will either mend or make them repulse each other further.

“I understand.” He says, and Kivera presses her forehead to his to show him the same memories she had shown Shuri. The direct torment in Hell she endured, how the former arc angel was dragged through mires, used in different ways, how she was blinded. Her betrayal of her zodiac circle as a lich puppet. Being made to attack them against her will. He could feel the flames that scorched her, reminding him of the flames that she had marked him with.

When she had finished sharing those memories, he wrapped his arms on her. He after all, shared something similar when he had attacked the other warrior of lights, had done the Ascian’s work to set Zodiark in motion.

“I accept these memories. To think you’d trust me with them.” Kivera feels vulnerable in it, and wants to run from him. He keeps her there, even as the prickle of lightning surges through her.

“I’ll keep them a secret too, and not use them on you.” He swears, and Kivera relaxes. The tension within her still there, but the start of them mending what could have easily ended their side of the relationship. He is reminded despite all her bravado and demeanors, this was a tormented soul. 

“You are not undeserving of kindness. And what you cling to from Damien’s death, if you show this much to mine and Shuri. Don’t you think it is time you healed too?” Kivera for the first time is struck with his words more than when he spat venom in their fight. She had felt her chest tighten, if her heart was within her, she’d have felt it skip or drop.

“I’m not meant to..” She turns her head away, Ardbert keeps hold feeling her wanting to run away.

“Stay. You have said it yourself before, that those who let their hearts be ruled by sorrow and grief risk destruction. Isn’t that true for you too?” He feels her nails dig into his shoulders. He is the second person to say that to her.

“I...” It is her lost for words, she pulls back but Ardbert keeps her from running with a hand between her wings.

“You don’t have to torment yourself anymore. Look at all you have gained.” She shoves away from him, but he keeps her there.

“I can’t just forget my feelings..”

“So don’t. You can keep them and mourn while chasing what is given to you. Trust us a bit more.” Kivera feels her face heat up, then buries her face into his chest.

“I will try.” She murmurs and Ardbert runs a hand through her left wing, not feeling her recoil from that touch.

“Black wing.” Ardbert understands and touches on it instead.

“Divinity and Shuri are right. You have your cute moments.” This gets Kivera to snap her head up and shove him back. He is glared at through pink irises and a dusted face to match. She in turn runs away and he laughs seeing her embarrassed for a change.

“Well, I’m not about to let her get away now.” He chases after her.

Kivera reflects his words.

“May too, I deserve redemption then.”