The burial of a Sylph was far different then that of any other Spoken - except, perhaps, the Viera. Each of them were taken to a paticular space, spoken to them though the trees, and they were buried there.

And, thus, Minfilia felt it would be best to take the… body… of the Elder back to Little Solace, for the Sylph would know what to do. She dared not place the tiny body down, and so Fordola and Lyse remained together.

“…how did it happen?” Lyse asked, for the fifth time. For Minfilia had not spoken - and she did not, this time, either. Minfilia was lost in her mind, the ground feeling crunchier under her feet. Perhaps she had upset the land, perhaps the Elementals were angry because she carried such. They had not seen the Ascian. They had not seen Nabriales… her head hurt, thinking about him and his oddly charming tone of voice. Her hands continued to tremble, as she finally looked to Lyse and Fordola.

“I was too late. A Paragon had infuriated a scorpion, and it had… poisoned the Elder. Even though I took down the scorpion, and tried to aid - I could not cure his ills, and Frixio passed in my arms.” Even if her mind was consumed by turmoil, Minfilia spoke calmly. “Before he passed, he asked if the Imperial Ones were finally scared away. I… had to lie, and told him yes - for I didn’t know if they were or not.

…are they?”

Fordola popped up out of her bag, looking right at Minfilia. “We didn’t learn much about the imperial threat here, but they won’t be sneakin’ around anymore. A Wood Wailer was feedin’ ‘em info.”

“And, ahem, Fordola lost control and attacked him and scared him,” Lyse added, bouncing a little. “So I don’t think he’ll be able to do his job.”

Minfilia couldn’t help but smile at Lyses’ optimism - and how direct Fordola had worked. She did not know the details, but she bowed her head - her eyes closing. “Thank you, Lyse. Thank you, Fordola. Now… we should be close to the East…”

Minfilias’ eyes opened again.

This wasn’t the East Shroud. Lyse and Fordola were gone.

It almost seemed like walls had appeared, thick trees. Was it an illusion? Was it the Elementals? She continued to move, her steps now more wary. Eyes watched, though she could not see them. Giggles filled the air, though she could not hear them. But soon, she was face to face with the reason why the land had changed around her.

Ramuh. Their Lord, their Primal. He stood in front of her - but something was different about Him. His face was masked, covered in a gentle featureless white mask. His levin staff was more of a cane, as he seemed to stand on the ground.

But his presense was choking, the air alive with levin. Minfilia could not help but bow, kneeling - not dropping the Sylphs’ body.

Ramuh did not stop focusing on Frixio - before using one of his massive hands - gloved in soft silks - to pick him up. “…this was not natural. Was it Man who tainted the children of the land?” he mused, as he stroked the corpse gently - before taking a step away from Minfilia. “Or was it the taint of those who came before?”

His voice was almost familiar, an accent Minfilia swore she had heard before. It took her a moment to realise Ramuh was asking her - and Minfilia looked up, trying to look as truthful as she could. “—It was a simple accident, Ramuh - lord of the Sylph.”

“That was not my question,” he boomed, and the land seemed to crackle - almost burn. “Who was the one who killed this child of the land?”

“Nabriales— a Paragon, an Ascian. They are agents of chaos, and—”

Ramuh spoke again - but this time, he surprised Minfilia. “Nabriales lives, then.” The giant primal let out a long, tired sigh - the storms seeming to calm slowly. “This is his toxin, that is true. One of my little ones got in his path… what a sorry state of affairs.”

Confused, Minfilia was moreso when Ramuh looked right at her - seeming to stare though her with that mask of his. “You are a Warrior of Light.” Minfilia weakly nodded, and Ramuh continued. “You have come to stop me from harming your Star.”

How did Ramuh know—? Minfilia nodded again, and Ramuh almost seemed to smile. “It has been so long since one like you has come for me… one with a mind like yours. You may defeat me - but I ask, first, for one simple request.

I wish to know more of the state of the Ascians. Of what you call Primal. And how you plan on defeating me.”

Minfilia wasn’t going to lose this chance. “—Very well. I shall begin with what I know about Ascian.”

Hours passed, as Ramuh listened to Minfilia - rarely interupting her. Only doing such when she left an opening - mostly asking her to continue.

But as she finished explaining her knowledge over Primal and Ascian, Ramuh gave a soft ween woon of a chuckle. “Your people have such a curious imaginination,” Ramuh then said, “but there is so little you know. I wonder… could you handle the truth? It would change every little thing you know about the very Star you live on.

…but I don’t know if my truth is the same as your truth.”

Taking a breath, Minfilia looked up at Ramuh - before standing. “I want to learn about whatever you can teach me, Ramuh. Even if you are a Primal, your knowledge can be researched. But… may I prepare my method of defeating you? It is a technique taught to me by a dear friend, which will seal you within a smaller form.”

Ramuh raised a hand - and banged his cane down. “Then that is what will happen… very well. I accept. As you act, I shall explain… though, as you say, my mind is muddled.

Before the Sylph, before anything, there were Fourteen, who ruled over many. But… there was a grand disaster coming.” Ramuh seemed to be thinking, though he was struggling. Minfilia was listening so intently, though. “It had already caused many to go out of control and perish. But the Fourteen - most of them - had an idea.

For these Fourteen could create. They could summon beings similar to Primal - small or large. If they could create one big enough, could it not end the destruction?”

Ramuh almost seemed pained, as he continued. “One of them disagreed, and abandoned them on the eve of the summoning. For to create this Primal, it would take the sacrifice of half of their people.

And yet, they went forward with it. The destruction halted, and their God could watch over them. But, something had gone wrong. The realm splintered, and the God fell into a deep slumber.”

Minfilia had stopped her carving, now listening. “Some of the Fourteen remained unsplintered. But they argued. They could put things back together, if they caused the disasters to return.

Some call that God Hydaelyn. Others call that God Zodiark. I… cannot say which is true.”

As Ramuh had explained, he had also buried Frixio gently. Minfilia, though, was stunned silent. She shook her head. “As… as I stated, I cannot— simply believe you. Still, your tale brings up theories I have overheard before - the sundered world theory, for example. I shall need to share this with—

—ah, Ramuh, might I ask a favour?”

Minfilia started to carve again, getting out the special sand. “I have a… friend, who does not have many others. But he’s an amazing scholar, and I am certain he would love your insights. If you remain in a form able to… would you write to him? It is a pity, but he would not be able to come visit you. If not for the levintouched Sylph, and the wrath of the Elementals—”

Ramuh tapped his cane again. “The Elementals are still a bother? How annoying. But I agree. If I am able to, I shall write to your ally. What is his name?”

Minfilia had finished the carvings, and began to pour the sand in - the magic beginning. “His name is Urianger Augurelt. I shall tell him of this arragement when I return to the Waking Sands.”

There was a kind look on Ramuhs’ face, as the magic sparked. As the whole area seemed to spark and glow, and as the Primal vanished…

…and what seemed like a sapling and a tiny Sylph remained. Well, a tiny sylph in tiny black robes and a white mask. Minfilia felt herself collapse to the ground, suddenly tired - such magic had taken it out of her. But the trees around them seemed to vanish, illusions fading, as violet-coloured Sylph let out little odd sounds. Ramuh looked up at them, and let out soft chirps. They moved away, listening to their God.

She had done it. Minfilia had done it. Another Primal was sealed, and thus, she had brought peace. Even if she expected a lecture from Papalymo. Laying down, Minfilia looked upwards, the warm sunlight beginning to make her relax more.

And then, Lyse tacklehugged her. Grinned. “You went missing, Minfy, and saved us? Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“Yeah,” Fordola said, not bothering to poke out of her bag. “We got cornered by those levintouched ones, ya know? Because of their damn illusions and glamours. But… two eikon down, right?”

…right. Minfilia let out the softest of sighs, letting their praise rush over her like a soft river. She let herself begin to slip off into sleep. For she suddenly felt so tired.