Minfilia Warde did not wish to return to the Waking Sands right away - especially not with Fordola. And especially since she had heard of her mothers’ - adopting mother, that was - passing. She would go and leave flowers, she thought. And then, perhaps, she would drop by Little Ala Mhigo.

But her Chocobo was settled, and she was pleased with her walk up to the church. Fordola remained nesting, as she liked to do. Perhaps it was because she was still a Primal, and still trying to conserve her strength. She hoped that someday she could help Fordola more - but her footsteps slowed up the path to the Church of Saint Adama Landama. They were allies, Minfilia recalled, though she knew they would not remember her.

Minfilia stood in front of the church, trying to tame her fears. She did not want to show her fear that F’lhamiin was truly dead. And yet, Minfilia shook her head, and walked in. The building was quiet, as she expected. Not many were around - but she recognized Father Iliud. How could she forget? He was the one who had been there to help her father pass into Thals’ realm, even if his body had not been buried. Her expression spoke of her question, and Father Iliud offered her a seat silently.

“We… still have many who come here to seek people who died in the Calamity - and those who have fallen to Primal threats. Come, my child - please do not hesitate,” Iliud said - sitting next to her, as Minfilia felt herself oddly relax next to him.

She took a few deep breaths. “I am one of those who walks among the wild roses, Father,” she began - and his expression twitched, but he did not speak. “I have… only recently come to learn of the likely passing of F’lhamiin, and wish to give her well wishes in Thals’ realm.”

Father Iliud was quiet, and listening, before giving her a soft smile. “Then you can do so. My dear child, my dear Scion - she may have perished in the flames, but she will forever be with you.” His words were calm and kind, as he offered an arm for her - and Minfilia curled into his arms, finally letting out a little sob. And then another. Not just for her mother, though. But for the pain she finally felt, her finally realising she’d missed so much life. Even if she had been remembered, people had changed.

She hadn’t, though, and that was the worst pain of all. Minfilia could not explain to him why she truly cried. But did it matter? She trembled in his arms, and let out one final sob, before looking to him - wiping her tears. “Do you have flowers? She— would appreciate such.”

But instead of showing her flowers… Iliud gave her a firm hold. And Minfilia felt herself relax more. “Ssh… take your time… let it all out.” Minfilia barely noticed him raise one of his arms to footsteps - to let somebody else know that this was important.

Minfilia lost track of time. Even as she felt the tiny little claw of Fordola join the comfort, she had cried so many tears she did not know that the sun had shifted across the skies. That is, until she finally looked up, silently. “…thank you. I haven’t gotten to sit still in quite some time - I haven’t thought about it.”

Father Iliud stood, and got her a glass of water. “The path you’ve chosen is a harsh one, my child. My Scion. Do not feel like you need to rush forward - reflecting is just as important.” As Minfilia drank, he finally grabbed flowers for her. “Many were not identified in the Calamity. She would have been buried in our yards - and I am certain she will feel your love.”

Nodding slightly as she sipped the water, Minfilia held back a hiccup and smiled. “She was a wonderful mother to me. I’m certain she— she’ll watch over me,” Minfilia said - more to reassure herself. She stood, and dusted herself off.

Adjusting his soft gaze, Father Iliud gestured slightly outside. “The Marquis should be able to aid you in finding where to lay them. He’s another who was left traumatised by the Calamity… a kind man, really, if not a little afraid of other people. Please, do not mind his fears.”

With a silent thank you, Minfilia stood - with the off-white flowers - and left the church, to the world outside.

The Marques, she could see, was a man in a dark brown cloak. He slumped ever-so-slightly, and his fingers would not stop trembling. He did not seem to react to Minfilia approaching - until his gaze suddenly snapped to her, his gaze suddenly focused on her. “The clicking…?” he said, looking right at her.

“Pardon me, sir—” Minfilia began, before he repeated himself. The clicking. Minfilia heard no clicking, but his eyes widened.

And the thing he said next made Minfilias’ blood grow cold. For she had just accepted her lot in life. “Minfilia— Minfilia?”

Minfilia dare not drop the flowers, but her hands tightened around them - choking any last life out of them. “You know my name…?” Minfilia near-shouted, trying to keep herself calm.

The man before her stared for a few moments more, before flinching - a delayed reaction. “I— the clicking told me— I don’t know myself.” Every word he said seemed to be said as if somebody else was listening in - he almost seemed to be asking permission to speak. His head bowed, but Minfilia then smiled at him.

Minfilia could feel a tiny bit of hope, fading away. But, just like before, she knew what to say. “I will not ask about the clicking,” she said gently. For just like with the strange knight, Selale, it was not her place to pry. This man was hurt by the Calamity. Perhaps he was hearing things - or perhaps something had happened to him. Either was fine. All she knew was that he knew her name, and she could pry, but that might scare the poor dear off. “Instead… may you point me to where tributes to those who fell in the Calamity are to be left?”

The Marques gave a little grunt, gesturing to a larger grave. “There… there’s the place. So many burned… so many in there, Minfilia.” He repeated the name to himself - before closing his eyes. “It’s so loud… p-please, leave me be.”

This clicking… Minfilia gave him a little nod. “Thank you, sir. I hope you may find peace in the future.”

Minfilia sat up with the grave for hours, even as the moon rose. The flowers sat unmoving, as did Minfilia. Fordola finally crawled out of her bag, and curled up on her lap. Both of them mourned the Calamity in their own ways. Both of them saw it in their own ways. Minfilia barely noticed herself curling up by the tomestone, mumbling about her mother.

The next morning, Minfilia awoke to the Marques looming over her - still trembling. He’d just placed a blanket on her, awkwardly - well, more of a ripped-up robe. Quietly, Minfilia thanked him with a smile. She left quickly after that, and returned to their caravan. As they moved towards Little Ala Mhigo, Minfilia decided she needed to clean up. In her caravan, there was a tub - and, so, she stripped down. Fordola looked up, before Minfilia placed her on a shelf. “How big is the glyph?” Minfilia asked, as she began to fill the tub by activating water shards.

Fordola gave a little snort, as she gestured. “Takes up about half of ya back? So, pretty big,” Fordola said, sitting and watching the other. “But I’m more worried about, uh, ya thighs. They’re looking… dirty but not?”

It was true, Minfilia realised, as she felt them. But she could tell what that feeling was - and she was beginning to realise why, if only internally. “I think they’re scales, Fordola,” Minfilia mumbled. “They’re strange, I know. But I can keep them hidden under some tights - or my baggy pants.” She’d also hide her other scales under her sleeves - it was fine. Really. Though she turned, and bent over to continue setting up the bath.

Fordola looked away for a moment before shrugging to herself. “Mind if I clean up with you?” she asked - Minfilia startling a little.

But, of course, Minfilia turned back and picked up the tiny lizard. “Of course you can.” It was a little strange, how comfortable she was with her nudity around another. Then again, the two of them didn’t have anything the other hadn’t seen. Except for little scars, of course, little marks on their body.

Minfilia settled into the tub, now that the crystals had used their energy. Fordola floated on the top, padding a little, before settling down near Minfilias’ breasts. Did Fordola notice the blush beginning to creep on Minfilias’ cheeks? Who knew. But Minfilia stretched a little - before shifting. “I’m going to sit up, Fordola. This isn’t just to relax… though, it is nice to relax.” Minfilia felt warm, even in the cooled water. Was it from the glyph? Probably. Yes, most likely. That Belias was a fire-based being… though, as she did sit up, she realised something with a start.

“—I know somebody who could tell me more of Belias,” she whispered to herself. Fordola tilted her head a little, and Minfilia gave a soft smile - grabbing the soap. “My ex-girlfriend. Though she wouldn’t admit it to many people, she was into the stories of the Esper.

They were also known as the Zodiac Brave - heroes who stopped a Calamity. Though I still don’t know much.” Minfilia continued to talk quietly, as she washed up. Mud and blood soaked into the water, caked on from her recent adventures. She bled, she fell, but Minfilia always got up. Fordola grabbed a second bar of soap, beginning to help Minfilia wash her back - pausing as she touched the blackened glyph.

“…It’s sort of like branding you, isn’t it?”

Minfilia paused, confused, before realising what Fordola meant. But Minfilia didn’t think so. “It was my choice. It’s closer to a tattoo - is it warm?”

Minfilia nodded to herself, again, confident. Still, Fordola scrubbed a little warily. Both of them were quiet, but Minfilia gave a little awkward cough. She sighed, and was about to say what was on her mind, until Fordola spoke up.

Fordola, of course, had her mind on something else. “You wanted to ask that guy more, didn’t ya,” she said - her tail lashing and splashing. “But that’s your problem. You’re more concerned with their comfort then ya own. Happened with th’faerie knight, too.”

“…you’re very astute,” Minfilia said, “but… it’s not just about comfort.” Pausing, Minfilia decided to explain. “It’s far easier to become allies then finding out what you need, then making enemies by pressing onwards. If people see you as a friend, they trust you more - with deeper and deeper secrets.

Though I know we may not meet with Selale again, I know that we’ve left a good impression on him. And that’ll be important, if we meet again.”

“So, you’re smoozin’,” Fordola stared, as she began to climb up Minfilias’ back to get the top of it.

That got Minfilia to chuckle a little. “I suppose you could say that, yes.”

The two continued to bathe, as the chocobo leading Ydas’ old carriage - now Minfilias, it seemed - towards Little Ala Mhigo - stopping just outside of the territory, as it had been trained to do. It was wonderful, for Minfilia, to finally get to simply relax with one she had a massive crush on.

Though, it was a little awkward, considering that her new crush had attacked her old ex-girlfriend. She’d need to figure out what to do with all of this… but, for now, she could relax after her tears. She could relax and feel happy with herself, if only for a moment…