[OPEN] The light that seemed to disappear

[bearshermark]

Who: Eleven and OPEN
Where: First District/Academy
When: September 3rd-ish
What: El has returned from his world, a bit disoriented by a mix of somewhat obscure visions/dreams, multiple sets of memories, and general time shenanigans.
Warnings: None.. at the moment, I think.



His feet hit the ground, and Eleven landed in a crouch. He held the stilled position for several moments, eyes focused on the shadows spread over the dirt a short distance from his fingertips. Then just as swiftly whirled on the person stepping up behind him. A civilian, he noted belatedly, and dropped his sword with an apology.

The newly forged Sword of Light gleamed in the afternoon sun. He rubbed his eyes and glanced up to clear blue skies above. Sunlight so bright that it seemed impossible. A spread of foreign scenery slowly resolved into distant familiarity.

Not Hotto, but Noa.

A world full of life, not yet fallen to darkness. A world ambivalent to the title of Luminary. Overlapping visions of two very different, yet puzzling dreams.

He'd regained his companions only to lose them again, but traded them for cross-dimensional friendships.

Hendrik. Yotsuyu. Isabel. Lea. Tenn. Isa. Kuja. Atem. A number of others.

Yet his feet hesitated to return, found himself caught between a strong desire to stay, and the compulsion telling him he should go. Mysteries and memories held him captive, conflicting, weighted, and scattering his focus.

He stayed.

It took a few days to feel ready enough.

When Eleven finally returned to Anastara, it was with a practiced smile: patient and friendly yet at odds with purposeful strides and drawn shoulders. He passed through the First District and into the Academy grounds with a polite nod to everyone he made eye contact with.

Nothing seemed terribly different from what he last remembered of the place. The people he thought he knew still recognized him.

"Has it really only been a few days..?"

Comments

[bearshermark]

He wasn't at all confident; the thought of failing terrified him so badly that it nearly felt as though that fear itself had dropped him back here. He knew exactly what was at stake, if light was not returned to the world- if he fell again. All of Erdrea was relying on him; every pair of eyes that saw his mark sparked with just a little hope. He'd just grown used to living under that gaze as he trudged forward step by defiant step, taking every scrap of encouragement from his companions and packing away the dark part of himself that only wanted to hide away somewhere remote and surrender himself to despair.

Eleven shivered.

"I'm going to retire," he reminded himself, eyes closing. "As soon as it's over. Become a fisherman in Lonalulu."

[darkenedmoon]

"Not before you show me your world, I do hope. Should I be lucky enough to be allowed there." Then again, Yotsuyu knew very well what she had to atone for; her crimes in her world were terrible enough that if she were resigned back to the seven hells after her time here ended, she would go.

It was merely what she deserved, after all. "But that does sound nice. Water is so very calming, and the breezes off the water are nice..."

So were things in Doma as well, before everything had gone so very wrong.

[bearshermark]

That's right. Eleven stepped back to look her over. He'd promised to pray to Yggdrasil for a leaf for her once She rose again.

"Cetacea," he said, brightening a bit. "I could take you on Cetacea. I'm sure Erdrea would be beautiful from the sky if Yggdrasil was restored. She can fly pretty fast. You could see the world, then decide where you wanted to live. I could visit, whenever life in Lonalulu is just a little too slow."

[darkenedmoon]

He had, but Yotsuyu would not blame Eleven if Yggdrasil decided that she was no good fit. Though she smiled as he brightened.

"I would like that, if it were to happen! Though if this Lonalulu is as nice as you say, I do wonder why that would not be a suitable place."

She might even retake her Witch of Doma title--in an entirely different fashion, this time, practicing alchemy for the natives and making curatives. That might be a nice way to live out her days.

[bearshermark]

"It's beautiful," he said with a nostalgic smile that faded just as quickly. "..Or it was. I haven't been there since the Fall, actually."

He hoped nothing happened to it. That its location had spared it any notice by the creatures of darkness.

"But it's a remote fishing village on the opposite side of the southern continent. It's rather superstitious about mermaids, but they don't know I'm the Luminary there, and their contact with the rest of the world is almost non-existent."

[darkenedmoon]

"Anything that was broken can be rebuilt," Yotsuyu said reassuringly, reaching out to pat Eleven's arm. "Such was done in Doma after it was liberated from the Empire. Surely the same could be done to Lonalulu. Though by the grace of the kami or your Yggdrasil, I hope it was spared."

It was not like she could know, but she could still help. "They would not know Doma either, especially since it is not present on your world. I could be the Witch of Doma, still be true to myself, and not harm anyone--make reparation for the things I have done. Be something of a healer, even if I do not retain any real magic, should I be able to join you."

It was definitely a nice thought.

[bearshermark]

It was near-to a dream. He didn't have any idea if the researchers would ever understand Sundering magic well enough to deliberately send people through them - perhaps they never should- but he longed for it all the same.

A simple, quiet life for himself, and redemption for someone dear to him that deserved it.

"I'll pray for that future," he promised, hand briefly covering hers. "Yggdrasil and Raida both are benevolent goddesses. Perhaps if it's within their power, it could be."

[darkenedmoon]

"I shall hope." Yotsuyu's expression turned thoughtful. She had never given much devotion to any of the kami or the gods of Hydaelyn, and she was not entirely certain that if she did so here, that the gods would answer. Yotsuyu had been fickle at best, and certainly far from devout.

"I have never been the type to give a god my devotion...but if you think it might help..." Yotsuyu wasn't ashamed to attempt to give thanks. She was glad she was alive, after all.

[bearshermark]

Eleven blinked, then raised a shoulder in a partial shrug.

"I don't know. You could try praying if you like, but I wouldn't force it. If the mood strikes you, I know that you'd be welcome in Raida and Oberison's temples."

[darkenedmoon]

"Even if I might be more suited to worship Kurdras of the Night Sky?" Yotsuyu smirked a little bit at that--if only because of what divinity she had once held. The irony amused her. Still, it might be worth it to apply to a benevolent deity.

"I am not certain I could ever give true allegiance, but at least begging forgiveness for the wrongs I've done in the past, and also begging guidance for the future? One of them might have mercy on me. I could do worse, I think."