Urianger Augurelt was not a touchy-feely man. Even as Thancred leaned on him, as they now sat in a meeting room in the Waking Sands. One of the rooms that had been added over the past year or so - the building almost seemed not to fit under the cliffs, Minfilia noticed, but the warm lights made it feel… good. Nice. Meetings in the Solar were nice, but it was also nice to sit together. (Though, right now, Minfilia wondered if they needed bigger seats. After all, Thancred was basically sitting with Urianger on his lap.)

Still, Minfilia placed Fordola not on a seat, but a cushion on the table in front of her. The tiny Primal let out a tiny little huff of flames, before cuddling up to herself - giving Minfilia a tiny look. “This is a bad idea,” she mumbled. “These people will just kill me, Minfilia.”

Minfilia sighed, looking to the others who had gathered. All the Archon - not just Papalymo and Yda and Thancred and Urianger, but Y’shtola and Lyse as well - had gathered, with her at the end of the table. It should feel crowded, Minfilia thought, but it didn’t. Perhaps because they’d set it up so it had a lot of free space - in case they needed more experts.

Bolormaa, meanwhile, was sitting in the seat Thancred should have been. Because, again, him and Urianger were sharing one. It was almost comical how large she was, barely fitting on the seat. If the Au Ra was going to be here for more meetings, they needed to get more chairs…

…but that wasn’t the point. The point was that they needed to discuss the tiny Ifrit that had been placed before them.

Yda was still resisting petting the little creature, but she looked to Papalymo, as he cleared his throat. “Ahem, well. That looks a lot like what the Goldsmiths’ Guild made - are we certain there’s a Spoken inside there?”

Fordola hissed, looking to him. “I dunno, are we sure you’re a Spoken?”

Rolling his eyes, Papalymo nodded. “Well, you’re clearly as firey as Ifrit.” He wasn’t hurt by her comments - no, it just confirmed that she was some sort of Garlean. Still, he continued. “And somehow, you’re not enthralling us. Urianger, could you explain?”

Urianger looked over from his position, adjusting himself and managing to look serious even as he was sitting on Thancreds’ lap. “When I was called upon with this issue, I thought back to tales recently uncovered close to Mor Dhona. Tales of those who had found a way to trap the very essense of Primal, so that they could not be summoned again. Using the power of the gems known as Auracite.”

“Auracite?” Bolormaa asked, looking to him with gentle eyes.

“There are many different forms of it. It is simply the term used in a long-dead kingdom for stones that hold massive power - at least, that is what I hath read. The kind these heroes used was able to use these Primal as their weapons.”

Everybody was listening intently, as Urianger continued, calm as ever. “And thus, I adapted. We did not wish for this Primal to be trapped in its’ own mind, for there was a chance we could save somebody - is that not correct?”

Fordola nodded. “To save me. Uh, thanks for not trapping me in a fancy rock?”

Urianger continued, not listening to her. “Plus, we did not have Auracite. However, an… ally of mine from far away knows of magics which can bind. Those are the patterns I had Thancred and Minfilia use.

A similar princible, with differing magic. And thus, it did not compact thee into Auracite, to never be freed again - instead, it compacted that presence into this form. Perhaps the magic pulled from the designs of what had been crafted before - magic is wild and unpredictable, after all~”

By this point, Fordola had crawled over to look right up as Urianger. Curiously. The Elezen seemed to passionate, gushing all about this - but he kept his body hidden. Thancred gave a little smile, leaning on Urianger more. “So… basically… we’ve stopped a Primal by placing it within a form where it cannot cause damage.”

Urianger paused. “Nay, not exactly. If this shell broke, the Primal would be unleashed again - and I doubt that they hath lost their ability to fight.”

Minfilia had been listening this whole time, a small frown on her lips. And then, she looked to everybody else.

“If that is the case… could this not be done for other Primal?”

A way to stop them without bloodshed. Sure, Minfilia could think of flaws - it would result in some tribes growing afraid, more dangerous. For if they did not have their ace in the hole, they may grow desperate in other ways. And if the Paragon caught onto it…

Still. It was their first method to fight back. And besides that - Minfilia gave a little nod to herself. It could assist in working together, beast and man.

Urianger nodded, his expression a little excited. “The glyphs used for each Primal would need to differ - I gifted thee the glyph for Fire. I am so glad it worked.”

“The land where the Glyph was carved turned… strange,” Thancred said quietly. “Cold and still.”

“…ah. To use such magic,” Urianger said, choosing his words carefully, “uses a lot of aether. Scars would remain in the land.”

“Wait a second—!” Papalymo interrupted. “By scars, do you mean we’re draining aether from the land—!?”

“Compared to what a Primal does, we are not.”

Papalymo stood in his chair, expression growing darker. “So you’d scar Eorzea for a respite?” Urianger nodded, and the elder Lalafell did not shift his gaze. That is, until Y’shtola spoke up.

She’d been listening, trying to understand. But now, she did. “Well… if these shells are not easily broken - like the auracite of stories, then it’s not just a respite, is it?” As eyes focused on her, she continued to speak, authority in her voice. Tail swishing.“Papalymo, you’re right to worry. But also, it’s better then beating one down, and another rising within the same week. Primal summonings have become more and more common - if they can be stemmed, then we can use this as a staring point.”

Y’shtola was known to remain quiet until she had a point - and as Yda chuckled, looking at Papalymo, he sat back down. “…you have a good point, Y’shtola,” he mumbled. “But not all Primal would be willing, correct? What about then?”

Y’shtolas’ tail swished. “That, Papalymo, is obvious. They would need to be weakened first - but not ended. Luckily, we have Bolormaa.”

Bolormaa began to wiggle as she was mentioned, looking to Y’shtola with a smile. “I can hold back in battle. Can Eidolon handle broken limbs?”

As her and Y’shtola began to debate if Primal could even have their limbs broken, it was Lyse who gave a little awkward sound. She didn’t think anybody was listening, but. “…not all Primal are made from people, though. Right?”

Urianger looked to her, and gave a soft frown. But it was Papalymo who spoke to her, gently. “That’s true. Not all of them will be like Fordola. But perhaps you’ll finally get that pet you’ve always wanted.”

It was clearly a joke, but Lyses’ eyes lit up. “Maybe I will!

Also, uh. Who’s the new girl? The one who brought in Ifrit?”

The mood in the room changed, as Papalymo adjusted his robes a little. “Right, you missed that. Lyse, Y’shtola, Urianger. We have wondered what happened to the former leader of the Path of the Twelve, and why we’d forgotten them.

We do not have all the answers, but this is Minfilia - their former leader. She has proven that she, at least, has our best interests at heart.”

A flick of her tail, as Y’shtola looked to Minfilia. “And you have made sure she is not a spy?”

Thancred scoffed. “If she was a spy, why would she have jumped to doing something so dangerous?”

Now having gone back to her pillow, Fordola looked right at the Miqo’te. “That, and I worked with Garlemald. Never heard of a Minfilia before.”

Her mention of her past… well, the mood in the room grew darker. More worried. Until Fordola continued. “I might have been sent out to hunt a missing Garlean - some sort of missin’ royal? But part of Minfilia trying this on me means I can’t go back.”

“You… didn’t know who you were looking for?” Yda asked, voice quiet.

“Nah. Ceci— Cecilia oen Aelius was th’one who had the information,” Fordola admitted. “Even if she was lower down on th’pecking order, she was going to inform me when we got out there. Too dangerous to let a non-native know, I guess.”

Even now, blood outranked effort. Fordola tsked, laying back down. “If Minfilia was working with Garlemald, she’d likely not be dispatched that far from my base. I was only chosen because Ceci was my partner. And y’don’t go anywhere without your partner.”

She felt she’d said her piece - after all, Minfilia had helped her out. Still, how little did these Archon - no, Scion - know about Garlemald? Would she need to teach them more? She hoped not.

“Well…”

Lyse stood, and held a hand out to Minfilia. “I don’t know if we knew each other before. But my name is Lyse Hext - and I trust you. Especially if Yda trusts you.” She gave a happy little bounce, hand shaking a little. “And, well - it’s nice to meet another Ala Mhigan!”

Meet again, she meant, but Minfilia took Lyses’ hand. She seemed so happy, compared to five years ago… not having to hide her face, her identity. Lyse gave a happy little squeak, as Minfilia shook her hand. “I hope that I live up to your expectations, Lyse.”

Y’shtola watched amused, the two ladies smiling so warmly. The scene was so warm, so kind… until Papalymo raised his hand to his ear. “Ah, Tataru—

I’ll send her right out.” Papalymo looked to Bolormaa, a little frown on his lips. “It seems we have some company. Let’s head out there. Everybody else - somebody, show Minfilia to her room. And maybe to that other Ala Mhigan brought here recently.”

“Oh! Right!” Yda said, leaping up as well. As Bolormaa and Papalymo left, Yda smiled. “Milleuda got brought here, right? She’s recovering well. Uh, maybe don’t tell her that the person who stabbed her was a Primal, though?”

Minfilia agreed, as Yda bounced over next to Lyse. Both of them - well, they both looked so happy! Together, as they had been before… well, before everything. The three of them - well, four, as Fordola scrambled to follow. Pausing, Minfilia put her in her sack again.

As soon as Minfilia saw Milleuda, she rushed into the infirmary, to look over her. Yda leaned on the doorframe, Lyse peeking in. Leaning down, Minfilia hugged her dear friend. Checking her over, before Milleuda gave a little laugh.

“Minfilia - calm yourself. These Scions of the Seventh Dawn care not for my reputation - they’ve cared for my injuries well. Soon, I will be able to return to my usual patrols.” Milleuda stated, as she kissed Minfilia on the cheek. “But will you be returning?”

It was obvious to Milleuda that Minfilia had found what she was seeking - from the gentle shine in her eyes, to the way she moved. “Do not feel you need to worry for me, Minfilia. I am stronger then you’d imagine.”

Minfilia sighed a little, one of her fingers rubbing down the others’ body. “Then… I am sorry, Milleuda. My name has been found here - this is where I was looking for.

This is the future Path of the Twelve. And my place is with them.

Still… Milleuda, may I ask something of you?”

Milleuda quietly looked at Minfilia, as Minfilia slightly pulled away. Her cheeks softly reddening. “I wish to continue paying for your services.”

“What—? But you know I’ll be far away - I won’t be able to defend you.” Milleuda said, her expression growing a little upset. “I wish to work for my gil, Minfilia.”

Minfilia nodded. “Instead of me, I wish for you to defend another friend of mine. His name is Wilred. He’s a passionate man… but I’m worried he’ll do something rash, and get in over his head.”

Milleuda listened. Closing her eyes. Before smiling a little. “So I’ll defend one of the Little Ala Mhigans? I can’t refuse you, Minfilia.”

Though Milleuda knew that the one Minfilia chose could defend himself, she understood the sentiment. Still, she leaned up, and her and Minfilia shared a kiss. “Are we going to break up with each other?” Milleuda joked - she knew the answer already.

“We both knew it’d end someday,” Minfilia replied, as she continued to kiss the other. “We’ll still love each other, but we have our places. So… let’s not think of it as a break-up, Milleuda.

Let us think of it… as it being better as friends.”

The two couldn’t help but cuddle each other, though, as the Hext siblings still watched over them. A soft moment, between two who loved each other so deeply… how romantic.

Love was love, it seemed, even if they knew this was basically goodbye. Minfilia gave Milleuda a soft little smile, before turning to leave. “Pray, let me know when you leave. So that I can bid you goodbye.”

“Your ally,” Thancred said quietly to Urianger - they’d moved to Uriangers’ usual corner of the Waking Sands. Urianger looked up at him - he’d say down. “I don’t mean to pry, but you know I worry.”

Urianger leaned back, looking to Thancred with the softest of smiles. “I… know what thee speak of, aye. And I cannot tell you much - please, believe me.”

Thancred kneeled, right in front of Urianger. “Not even if I solve one of your riddles?”

That made Urianger curious, looking down at Thancred. Golden eyes gleaming behind his goggles. “You would risk that, hm? You know what I do to those who cannot do so.”

Confidently, Thancred nodded. “I know you, Urianger. I know you won’t do that to me.” And even if he tried to, Thancred wouldn’t let Urianger hurt him. He’d give him a little bap on the head. Perhaps a little more, depending on it.

Urianger leaned close to Thancred, and whispered. “I am hard and cold, people love me I am told, but once I flow I am wanted no more . What am I?”

Ah. He was making it easy - Thancred gave a shake of his head. “Ice. In paticular, ice in the summer months - when it melts, it’s not going to cool anybody down.”

Urianger blunk.

Urianger blunk again.

Had he… gone soft with these riddles? Thancred didn’t even ask for any clarification! Darn. And he’d made a promise.

“Faeries.”

It was Thancreds’ time to blink, this time a little confused. “Faeries?” he asked, tilting his head - still keeping his voice quiet. Now, Thancred did believe in faeries a little. In his dreams, he often saw them. But those were just dreams, not… reality. He began to examine Uriangers’ face - the way his lips did not part after he spoke, the seriousness built into his face…

…and sighed a little. “Faeries. Really, Urianger? I know you’ve gotten some more books from Moenbryda recently, but this is serious. If we need to bind a stronger Primal - what then? A larger one…”

Gently, Urianger lowered his hidden gaze. “Doth thee think the size of the glyph matters? What matters is trapping the being within. If thee carved it into a stone tablet, even that could be used.

…but that would be dangerous, for the sands could activate and trap thee within.”

Thancred froze. “You could trap a person in them?”

“Aye. I did not wish to tell this to others, for it would give them undue stress. It is also why this technique must remain quiet - else my ally will be upset with me.

If it was employed over a large area, it could trap a large amount of aether and compact it into a single source. That could be used as a dangerous weapon…

…tell me, Thancred. Hath thee heard of nethicite? That is what could be crafted from such.”

Ah, yes. Nethicite. It was a weapon used in the ancient Ivalice, Thancred recalled. The myths spoke of a King who united the land using it, or using auracite. The stories were lost, still being re-translated. The King, however, united the lands before vanishing - the lands turning to ruin as they did. That was the fall of Ivalice, or so the stories went.

Urianger knew how to craft that stone - Thancred couldn’t help but worry. Even if Urianger seemed to be in control - well, what if he gifted it to the wrong person?

“Your secrets are safe with me, Urianger.”

It was an unspoken promise that Urianger could trust Thancred more, even if he was filled with worry.

“As you might be able to guess,” Yda said as they walked along the underground corridor, “we don’t have enough rooms for everybody to have their own. Well, usually - but we have a spare one for you and Ifrit.”

“I prefer my name. Fordola.” Fordola stated, snorting as she poked her head out. “Please?” It was Lyse who opened the door to Minfilias’ new room, though. It was… quite empty, with just a bed in it. Well, and a dresser. There was a fine layer of dust over everything.

“Thank you,” Minfilia stated - not fussy, as she entered quietly.

Yda smiled, as Lyse bounced beside her. “It’s pretty empty,” Lyse said, “but that’s just because recruitment’s been down. Lots of people don’t wanna live and work in the same place, you know? But people like me and Yda, well - we don’t have another home.”

Giving a chuckle, Yda nodded to herself. “If you need anything else, please let us know. We should be able to find it, or get it sent over… second-hand… probably.”

Even as the two sisters talked, Minfilia collapsed into an actual bed. The wagon - caravan - whatever had been a little cramped, and she’d not gotten to sleep in a real bed that wasn’t half-rotted for ages.

Fordola gave a little laugh, as she watched Minfilia fall asleep… but it was soft. Comfortable. And she felt herself curling up next to her, slipping off.

It was time to rest. They could get to work tomorrow.