The next morning, Yda had reheated some of the stew as a breakfast, and had set up the table in her wagon so that they could all sit around it. Her contacts hadn’t quite arrived yet, but Minfilia was a little nervous. Who would they be? Would it be somebody she knew before? Could she explain herself?

Her fears were confirmed after the door opened, and in came Thancred Waters. His clothes loose, his movement swift… but behind him entered a massive dragon-like person. Black scales covered most of their dark body - another Au Ra. But this one was massive. Larger then a Roegadyn. Towering over Minfilia, the Au Ra then spoke gently. “Hello, new friend. My name is Bolormaa, of the Dotharl. I am a new recruit to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. It is my pleasure to meet you.”

Minfilia held out her hand, trying not to seem intimidated - and then smiled back. “It is my pleasure. My name is Minfilia, and I possess the Echo.” No need to complicate it, as Bolormaa shook her hand. The Au Ra sat down across from her, hollow blue eyes shining a little.

“You, too, have the Gift. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? To see lives which once were, and to connect the dots across lifetimes?” Pausing, Bolormaa chuckled. “Ah, my apologies. It is a long story. Perhaps, when we are not seeking an Eidolon, we shall need to discuss it.”

This Au Ra must be from far away, Minfilia thought, before she noticed Thancred looking hard at her. As their gaze met, Thancred gave a soft smile. “Thancred Waters, of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. I must say… you look like a hard worker.”

—He really didn’t remember. Trying her hardest not to show her expression, Minfilia kept her placid smile. “I am, Thancred.

Shall we get to discussing this problem, then?” Thancred couldn’t but tilt his head, but Yda sat - she’d finished serving them up food, after all.

“Right! So. Our lead is a weird Au Ra who’s been stealing crystals. And according to Minfilia, she’s been just looking for them in general - oh, and the Amalj’aa are looking for somebody.”

“Now,” Minfilia said, between polite sips, “I may have thought that they were seeking ‘him’, but Amalj’aa tongue isn’t as easy as that. The Echo gives us the ability to understand their language, but there is still interpretation and bias.

I think that if we trap the Au Ra who’s been stealing crystal, we will either find Ifrit, or…”

“Or what?” Thancred asked, though he was following this train of logic, and he didn’t like it. “We know that Primal are influenced by whoever summoned them, but do you really think the Amalj’aa would summon an Au Ra?”

Minfilia shook her head. “Is it not the way of the Paragon to sew seeds of chaos and misdirection? If this is another case of their influence…”

“Excuse me,” Bolormaa said, half-putting her hand up. “What do you mean, Paragon? Like the one I fought?”

Thancred nodded. “Yes, they also have been influencing the beast tribes to summon Primal.” Sometimes, they forgot that they had a new Warrior of Light.

“Ah. And Ifrit is usually a large creature, yes?”

Minfilia crossed her arms. “Yes, usually. The myths of the Amalj’aa see Ifrit as a being of both fury and anger. A being who wishes to scorch the land and purify it, so that they are safe.”

“What if the Amalj’aa didn’t summon Ifrit?”

Everybody looked to Bolormaa, who continued to need to slump down. “I mean… sure, this is their territory. But territory might be why Ifrit is here. Ifrits’ soul might have been reborn in another.”

Thancred leaned a little against Bolormaa, in thought. “It’s highly unlikely. Yda, do you have any information which could lead us?”

Yda sighed - she hadn’t touched her food, and was now looking away. “Well. I do know the Crania Lupi have been dispatched out here. You know why.”

Both Minfilia and Bolormaa seemed confused, but Thancreds’ eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you tell us earlier, Yda? We’ll need to get in contact with the other Grand Companies—”

“—as soon as Ifrit is dealed with. I can handle it until then,” Yda said, sounding a lot more relaxed then Thancred. “But Garleans wouldn’t summon a Primal - they don’t believe in Gods. So that’s more then out.

Anyway, that Au Ra is probably tempered. So if we follow her, we find Ifrit. Now, usually, I’d ask you, Thancred—”

“—I’ll do it,” Thancred said - even though he knew he didn’t have the Echo. It could kill him. Or, worse… “I’ll play my part, and escape as soon as I figure out what’s going on.”

Minfilia couldn’t help but let out a little choked sound, before her gaze grew dangerous. “No. That’s not the plan, Thancred.

You see, she came to me before, looking for crystal deposits. If I find her again and can corner her, I will be able to talk to her. Hopefully. If she is tempered, then we know what must be done.”

One of the worst parts of the job.

“But, if she is tempered, she will not have much of a reason to hide where Ifrit is. And then, Bolormaa?”

Bolormaa gave a little smile. “I will fight Ifrit. Others with the Echo have been contacted, as well, in case more are needed. The Scions are a good bunch of friends, huh?”

They were. And yet, Minfilia felt so sick. Mostly from seeing Thancred - who shook his head. “Let me follow you, Minfilia. Everybody needs protection, hm?”

She couldn’t refuse. Else, Thancred would ask why, and Minfilia could not explain it. So, instead, she gave a soft nod. “I know it is not a usual plan, but please, trust in me. And only strike if I ask you to, or if it seems I may perish.”

“Fine.” Thancred spoke, as he continued to eat. Continued to look at Minfilia, for there was something bugging him about her. Not just that her and Bolormaa shared a hair colour - that was common. But… no, he couldn’t seem to think of what it was.

Maybe it’d come to him later.

They agreed that Minfilia would set out first, and Thancred would follow a little after. As Minfilia left, however, Yda tapped Thancred on the shoulder. “So, do you think she’s cute?”

Thancred looked to Yda, a bit of a deadpan look on his face. “Cute as in good to sleep with, or cute as in cute? Because, it’s weird. She’s the latter, but not the former.”

“How’s that weird?” Yda asked.

“Because she’s— I don’t know if I’ve had this feeling before.”

Yda then moved Thancred a little away from the window - Bolormaa was out there, after all, beginning to investigate the area herself. (Or just peering around, posing for some strange reason.) “She told me something weird, actually. You remember how we’ve all forgotten a lot?” Thancred nodded quietly. “Well, she thinks she’s one of those people we forgot. Our lost leader - no, not Louisoix, but… the one who lead the Path of the Twelve?”

Thancred paused. And then frowned. “Why would I feel that way about the leader of them? I— don’t know, Yda. We’ll need to find proof.” And even so, it confused him. “And I think our current leader’s doing just fine,” he added.

Yda fell a little quiet. Her expression growing a little dark, before shaking it off. No need to tell Thancred how she felt about their leader. Instead, she perked up again. “Even so, I think that if she helps with this mission, we should let Minfilia join us. We could use a diplomat - and maybe we can get closer to the Grand Companies?”

Thancred nodded a little. “I think we’ll need to get closer to them for your sake, as well. It was hard enough to get you a position in the Immortal Flames… I still don’t think the Syndicate has figured it out, but it’s a matter of time.”

Yda slumped. “Yeah, yeah. It’s gonna suck. And I still wanna help Ala Mhigans.

…I think… it’s time for you to go, Thancred.”

Thancred could tell - oh, he could tell he said the wrong thing, and set out with a dismissive wave of his hand. While Yda couldn’t tell, Thancred was deep in thought. He had to protect this girl, at least. It’d be his duty.

It did not take much to find the violent cloaked lady. She had returned to the mining location, and was trying to claw desperatly at the rocks. She was screaming, she had drained much of the energy… before turning to Minfilia, eyes nearly visible under her cloak. “You—! They’re gone!”

Minfilia had to stand her group. “I know where there’s another cache of crystals. Without letting them rest, the aetherial charge lessens. Follow me.” Even after being robbed, Minfilia could focus. She could pretend she wasn’t terrified. The cloaked figure approached, looking at her. “Lead… lead me. Please.“

It was almost too easy, as Minfilia began to walk. Quiet, hand on her dagger. They soon got to where Minfilia was thinking of - a small branch from the Red Labyrinth. Recently, it had been discovered, and had a cache of shards. She could have told others, but… well. There were ways to get gil. Minfilia made sure that she blocked the exit, as the cloaked figure begain to claw at the rocks. Desperate, seemingly hungry. Pity entered Minfilias’ eyes, as she stood her ground.

It did not take long for the other to curl up on the rocks, seeming satisfied with the location. But before she could doze off, Minfilias’ shadow loomed over her. Trying to pull her hood over her eyes, she whined. “This is about ya crystals, isn’t it. Sorry, I’ll get ya some more when I can think clearly.”

Minfilia sat down in front of her, yanking up her hood. And she was horrified. This was no Au Ra. Her skin was clear as a Hyur, except for the horns piercing her skin, seeming to twist around. Scales seeming half-formed, seeming to clamp down on her - and hair seeming to be firey, turning from red to orange to yellow. Her eyes had changed from that brilliant green to a duller one. And now that she could see the other closer, she could see those claws were part of her flesh as well.

This person was clearly either tempered or… that theory Bolormaa had given was right. And by the way she curled around into the crystals… oh, Rhalgr. “—what happened?!” Minfilia couldn’t help but say in her horror. The tired other woman simply curled back into herself, pulling her hood back over.

Mumbling, she didn’t bother drawing her weapon. “…don’t know. Woke up this way.” Her accent was… somebody trying to hide their Ala Mhigan accent, now that there was tiredness included. Trying to be more neutral. “Need crystals to think.”

Minfilia had gone from horrified… to horrified, in another way. She placed her hand to the other, before the other shifted away. “Have… I have work to do.” And yet, she curled up more. Shuddering. Was it right to leave her suffering? Minfilia gulped, before brushing at the hair of this other.

“…What were you doing before you came here?”

The mashup of Ifrit and a Highlander chuckled. “You’ll kill me if I tell you.” After a short pause, she smiled to herself. “I’m… Garlean. I was deployed to hunt down… somebody.” It was hard to think. Hard to remember names. But yet, she continued. “Me and my partner… Cecilia… we split up. And then, this black robed person grabbed me… and I passed out.”

Black robed— “One of the Paragon,” Minfilia whispered. “They took you, and— likely presented you to the Amalj’aa.”

The hooded figure groaned. “Those savages won’t leave me alone.” Even if she was their Primal, it seemed she had her mind, if only a little. But it took crystals to keep it… Minfilia was thinking. Foolish, naive thoughts began to enter her mind, as the other continued to talk. “I don’t want ‘em. I want to go back…”

“You can’t return to Garlemald,” Minfilia began, before being interupted.

“Not Garlemald. Ala Mhigo. I— told ya you’d wanna kill me.” But instead of what she thought would happen, Minfilia began to remove the others’ cloak. Underneath, spikes seemed to have pierced her armour, just like Ifrit.

“Garlean or not, you don’t deserve… this,” Minfilia whispered. “We may be enemies, but this has never happened before.”

As the now-uncloaked figure stopped protesting - she was so tired - Minfilia continued. “Usually, Primal are how the tribe sees them - summoned instantly, out of aether. And yet, it almost seems as if Ifrit is growing… inside you.” It wasn’t something she’d heard of before. And if they just slayed this Ifrit, they might not get answers. Yet, Minfilia knew the truth. A Primal was not just a danger because it was violent. No, it would drain the land of aether - and it would enthrall others.

But a Garlean would not wish to do either - either a Garlean by blood or by being raised in that enviroment. This woman seemed only a little younger then her. Would she have known the Ala Mhigo of before? “I cannot let you go free,” Minfilia finally asserted. “But I cannot let you die.”

The Ifrit-fused woman looked up at her, with a little tsk. “Then what— are you going to do?”

“I’m not certain yet. But… you don’t feel influenced by the Amalj’aa? At all?”

A shake of her head. “I— don’t.”

Minfilia had an idea. “…I think I know how to save you— what’s your name?”

“…Fordola,” the half-turned woman said. “Fordola pyr Lupis.” Minfilia didn’t quite recall what pyr meant, but it was rather high-ranked, she assumed. Somebody to respect. Lowering her head, Minfilia continued to fuss with her - now with her armour, which had been melted by the heat. “…oi.”

“Your skin’s burned,” Minfilia stated - before magic began to sparkle at her fingers again. More curative magic. “I won’t remove more.”

Fordola gave a little tsk. “Who th’hell are you? And what are you plannin’?”

“You will remain with me if I save you,” Minfilia began - as Fordola didn’t protest, she continued. “Primal require two things to be sustained. Influence and crystals. It seems that a Paragon— the black-robed person— has managed to subvert the first. And if there was a way to minimize your aether requirement, then…”

“…you’re speakin’ nonsense.”

Minfilia sighed, leaning on the rock a little. “If I can figure out how the Paragon altered the summoning, then I can save you.

Please, let me try.” She did not say that to Fordola, though, but to the figure in the background. To Thancred, who stepped into the light, towards Minfilia.

He was staring, in half-shock. “…Are you certain you have the Blessing, Minfilia?” he finally asked, looking between them. Jaw slightly open.

Minfilia stared at him. And then her expression softened. “I do. This woman has her mind, Thancred - you heard her!”

“She’s a Primal, Minfilia. We can’t just— she’ll end up turning.”

Minfilia was quiet. Before looking right at Thancred. “Then - let us try once. If we fail, then I will kill her myself.” Her expression didn’t waver, and Thancred stood his ground. Before his hand raised to his ear.

“I shall contact one of my allies, to see if he believes this is possible—”

“Urianger, right?” Minfilia said, as she moved closer to Fordola. “Be careful. If there’s one Imperial here, then others might be listening.”

Thancred nodded, half-rolling his eyes. But Minfilia was so earnest… he owned her at least a call.

Yda and Bolormaa, meanwhile, had begun to try and find out more information. The two of them walked side-by-side, and they couldn’t help but talk. “You see,” Bolormaa said, tail wagging, “I do not have talent with magic, and that is why I use daggers. That is how it’s always been. But I have repaired mine by myself.

That is what Bolormaa does. That is who Bolormaa is.”

Yda stretched a little. “It’s a little weird, but it must be nice to feel that connected to your past. I wonder if I’ll ever…”

But as Yda trailed off, she turned. For there was somebody shadowing them - one of the Crania Lupi. One smaller then her, one with a thin blade. Ydas’ expression grew dark. “Bolormaa. Go and get one of the Immortal Flames - one who isn’t me.

I need to handle them alone.”

Bolormaa didn’t ask why, as she scurried off. Yda turned back. “Didn’t know you’d be this persistant,” she said, getting ready to fight.

“You have quite the audience wating for you back in Garlemald,” the other said, “but this isn’t about that.” Yda tilted her head - before the Lupi continued. “I could care less about some noble struggle.”

Before Yda could retaliate, a mask appeared on the other, their skin seeming to burn away to reveal the cloak of an Ascian - or what they had been calling a Paragon. “I cannot let you interfere in my masters’ plan - even if you’re wanted alive.”

Oh. Yda shrugged, expression shifting to a grin. “So I don’t need to hold back, right? A pity that person’s dead, buuuuuut.” Yda shifted forward, swiftly, punching right at the face of the other. The fight began - blade and fists dancing, both mostly dodging the other. Yda having to be careful - she didn’t know much about fighting them. It wasn’t her place in the Scions.

The Ascian, though, could feel the grip on this body falling. Cecilia had been their identity - it had been easy to overtake her life. All for their Master, of course. Even if this scheme seemed odd. There was no questioning them.

No, they just had to take down Yda. Or at least distract her for long enough.

Yda, however, was counting on this. Because, well… as Cecilia dodged and dodged her fists, she could not dodge the dagger in her back. Sliding down, Cecilia barely saw the adventurer, Bolormaa, looking Yda in the eyes with a smile.

They had taken down an Ascian, unaware of how Minfilia and Thancred were doing. The two of them giving a soft look to the corpse, the Ascian within seeming to fade away.

Quietly, Yda nodded. The other Immortal Flame they’d brought approached - and Yda gave a sad smile. “She was long-dead - and possessed.

Still. I think we should try and see if there’s any identification - or information on why she was this far from Gyr Abania.”

No need to worry them and mention it was Ascians. Everybody was already on-edge because of the ideas of Primal summoning…

…not that Yda knew just what was going on with the so-called Primal.