“You want to know about Belias?”

Minfilia and Fordola had taken the trek from Little Ala Mhigo out to the Corpse Brigade. They had not raised her weapon at her, for she had become allies with them - even if they were filled with hatred for Ala Mhigo. Minfilia walked that fine line - even if she had positions of authority now, they had seen her work up from nothing. Minfilia Warde was respected by them.

And, thus, it was easy for her to reunite with Milleuda the Slitter. They greeted each other with a fistbump, a playful punch to each other. Fordola watched, quietly, curiously. Minfilia had such a warm smile directed at the other. She nodded, gently, before turning to show her ex-girlfriend the bottom of her glyph.

Milleuda touched the glyph, with a soft gasp. “…I’ll tell you what I— what I know. But it’s nothing compared to learning that he’s true.”

The two sat across from each other. And Milleuda began to tell a story, one which she had been told by one who had now perished…

Long, long ago, the land of Ivalice stood in the far east - or did it stand where Ala Mhigo does now? It was not clear, because relics from the kingdom had been found in both. But this story came from the far east. In that region, Ivalice had grown to be the strongest power - but it had also just been at war with the other Ivalice. One had vanished, however, in a flash of light.

The nobles would not pay those who fought for them, for they did not have the money to do such. For they did not care for the commoner. (A common theme, Milleuda mused, as Minfilia frowned.) But commoners could not fight back - could they?

What did this have to do with Belias? He was a curious being - known as a blade of the Dynast-King - one who had united the old lands. But he had been found by commoners, once the light had ended one Ivalice. His body gave way to a stone.

This stone was known as auracite. The blood of the Gods - but Belias was no god. He acted like a man, for he was once a man - a captain, they had been told, of the commoners. The light had corrupted him, and turned him into a beast - and he had been rejected.

But the auracite was used to fight nobles. It had been used, and used, until it faded into nothingless. And, with that, the hope of commoners to hold a place.

That is, until the same light ended the Ivalice of the Far East.

“…it was a story my brother told me,” Milleuda admitted, as she leaned back a little. “It’s a little silly, but it’s been passed down though my family. Even if my brother has passed, I still remember him - and it.”

Minfilia had lost herself in the story, feeling the warm glyph on her back shifting. “Thank you,” she said. “Though I’ve never truly considered the idea that there were two Ivalice - I don’t really know much about such.”

Milleuda gave the softest smile, before looking back down at her table. “Of course not. It’s not something many Ala Mhigans care about - they talk about their history, but only the bits that matter to them. They don’t even know what they want from a reclaimed Ala Mhigo!”

Minfilia tilted her head, but let Milleuda go on her rant. “Would they allow us there? No! Would they try and reclaim a king? Of course they bloody would!” Slamming her hands on the table, Milleuda snarled. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say Garlemald was better for them - because at least Garlemald won’t let them kill each other over paranoid delusions!”

Right. That was it. Fordola popped out of her bag - and Milleuda froze. “Not to correct ya - actually, yes, t’correct ya - but Garlemald sort of encourages Ala Mhigans to kill each other. I mean, they encouraged me to kill ‘em.”

Minfilia looked between them. Sighed. And began to explain. The mad woman who tried to kill Milleuda was actually due to an Ascian scheme - ah, the Ascian are chaos-causing beasts - and now she’s stuck as an oddly-marketable minion. But she also doesn’t want to murder anymore. Just needs crystals.

And Milleuda gave a little smile to herself, before nodding a tiny bit. “So she’s like an Esper. Like Belias.”

Neither of them had considered this. But Minfilia nodded… before her gaze was distracted by seeing a deep pink garmet, that seemed to shimmer in the box it’d been shoved into. “What’s that?” Minfilia asked, curiously.

“Oh, that? Something we stole. Some old clothes from the Fists of Rhalgr. But I haven’t seen it glow like that before.” At that, Minfilia stood to examine it - her hands curling around the fabric. It seemed to almost feel like soft electricity in her hands, the soft silks curling around her hands. Many monks, from what Minfilia had learned, made their own outfits as part of their training. But these almost seemed to be her size. These almost seemed to fit perfectly on her - Minfilia barely noticed that she was checking such. Holding the clothes in front of her. “You can have them if you want - I just didn’t want any of those Little Ala Mhigans takin’ it.”

Minfilia grasped it - but as she did, she then heard a voice from the entrance of the cavern - all three of the people in the cavern turned.

There was an Ascian standing at the door. Well, they had the same sort of mask, but they had Elezen ears built into their robe. That was something Minfilia hadn’t seen before. She stared, wide-eyed, before her gaze focused. The Ascian spoke, with an excited voice.

“Finally! One out of four!” the Ascian spoke, bouncing a little - unable to keep themselves still. “But you’re gonna need to find the others before you’re all ready, Warrior of Light!”

Her voice was perky, but she was still an Ascian. Minfilia swiftly packed the top and Fordola into her bag, rushing after the other— but instead of teleporting, the Ascian ran, bounced, seemed swifter then the usual Elezen. Minfilia took chase.

Neither of them seemed to be slowing down, as they approached Amalj’aa territory. But there were so few milling around - Fordola couldn’t help but poke her head out. What happened…? A lot of those here would have had to be enthralled, but that would mean— oh. Oh, she had a devious plan to help Minfilia. But the Ascian had leaped onto a rock, looking down at them. From this angle, Minfilia could see purple hair poking out from the others’ robes - messy and unkept.

“You don’t get it, do you? But of course you don’t,” the Ascian said with a sly smirk. Was she— having fun? That’s what it sounded like. “Why the clothes are reacting to you, I mean. You don’t get any of this in general, but that’s just one thing.”

The Ascian then stood again, landing in front of Minfilia - huh, she seemed about the size of the twins. But, no, she wasn’t one of the twins. “I’ll leave that to you, though. I’ve buried the others around here - but you’ll never know where, unless you beat me.”

—What sort of Ascian raised their hands to fight with fists? Minfilia had never heard of such, but this one had. Minfilia felt a tightness in her throat, and she shook her head. “Please— please, I want to understand. Can’t we simply talk?”

“Hmm…” the Ascian pondered - or pretended to ponder, before shaking her head. “Nope. Even if you had half as long as I did, you’d never get it.” And with that, she punched at Minfilia - Minfilia barely dodging the fist, before a leg slammed across her side.

Minfilia was weaker then she put on - trying to muffle a scream, as she finally drew her daggers. Magic flickered, and she cured herself - the Ascian looking at her with a mock disgust. Minfilia barely registered it, as she flung one dagger to direct, grabbing the other to cut.

It was no use - the monk-like Ascian simply jumping up. Seeming to fly in combat, the Ascian headbutted Minfilia from behind, seeming to focus on the half-visible glyph—

—before she was suddenly gripped. Not by Minfilia, nor by Fordola. But by an Amalj’aa. A strong one - towering over both of them. “Lord Ifrit. This is the one?”

Minfilia dashed to grab her dagger, as she glanced down at Fordola. Fordola nodded, with a smirk. “It is. Hold her - ‘m not sure if we should bathe her in… er, cleansing flames? Fuck, that’s right, isn’t it?” Fordola mumbled the last bit, trying to figure it out.

Managing to catch her breath, Minfilia looked around. And heard Fordola barking another command. “Listen up! This intruder buried some Hyur-sized clothes, for my companion here! Find it, and bring it to us!” What the heck…? Fordola had been fighting this, hadn’t she? But now, she commanded the Amalj’aa - who began to surround them. One or two sniffed at Minfilia, but Fordola glared at them. “She’s mine, you overgrown lizardmen!”

Normally, that would insult the Amalj’aa. But they were heavily enthralled, so that any words from their God would be seen as praise. And that seemed to make the Ascian chuckle - not afraid she was caught, it seemed. Minfilia - after Fordola gave her permission in a gaze - approached the other. “What… do you want?”

The Ascian looked up at her, with a soft smile. The group could feel not just magic building, but a sense of dread.

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe me. You’d just want us all to fuck off, wouldn’t you? And let your little Mothercrystal save you all?”

Minfilia bit her lip. “I wouldn’t say…”

“That’s why your people fight us. But think about it - you’re the heroes of your own story, right?

I’m working to help the heroes of my story.”

And with a cruel laugh, the Ascian vanished - dropping a crystal. The same that appeared so long ago, the sort that Hydaelyn gave her a vision from. But this one gave nothing - Minfilia trembling a little. Something about that Elezen Ascian scared her. Something primal. The Amalj’aa let out a snort, before joining the search - the other temple clothes being found quickly.

Minfilia looked to Fordola. Fordola shrugged. “I’m going to be leaving with my companion. Until I return, do not take more people in my name. We must save our strength for when the flames burn all of this land to the ground, got it?”

Now, Minfilia knew that that wasn’t how it worked. But she would let Fordola believe, at least until they returned to their caravan.

Far, far away, the smaller Ascian returned to their base. Under a large tree, one which had grown for era. This was the most fun part, she thought, as she began to climb. She could have teleported up, but, eh. That was boring. Plus, she had news for the Ascian who slumbered on those branches.

Nabriales slumbered there, looking across the ruins around them. It had become his favorite place - an airship graveyard. After all, where else would he be reminded of his passions, his loves from before? He barely looked up as he felt the branch sway, as he felt weight under him shifting. “Prishe. It’s been a while. Found your partner, then?” he asked so casually - not even bothering to face her. That is, until she sat on him.

“Well, it’s a little harder when he’s not a tree,” Prishe said - flicking at Nabriales’ mask. “Not all of us killed our partners in cold blood.”

Nabriales snarled to himself. “It was the will of Lord Zodiark, and I— I did not kill her. It was the calamity which ended…”

Prishe dusted herself off, removing her mask, ignoring the grumbles of the other. “Anyway, this isn’t about him. He’s probably still asleep on the moon. No… I have some news that relates to you and your inability to move on.”

Tsking again, Nabriales tried to shove her off - and succeeded, him slightly shifting to watch Prishe fall the massive height of the tree. A thud, but not a minute later, she’d made her way back up to him. “Ow. Anyway, a certain Esper’s chosen a new champion. And we both know he’s a sentimental old coot, just like you.”

Okay, that got Nabriales to sit up. Adjusting his mask, his expression shifted to a frown. “…then the Blessed one I saw really was— oh, this will be interesting.”

Prishe didn’t get all that Nabriales rambled about. She hadn’t been here for as long as him, after all - she hadn’t been able to come here for quite some time. But she gave a little sigh to herself, moving to another branch - about to break off a smaller one, before Nabriales knocked her down again.

This time, he had stood. (None hurt this tree. He will not allow it.) “I suppose that I can’t trust Lahabrea to bring upon Ultima Weapon alone. Not with Belias active.”

Prishe didn’t bother climbing back up, but she yelled up. “This isn’t about an ex-lovers quarrel, you idiot! This is about fixing what happened!”

Nabriales ignored her. It seemed like, for now, he had motivation. And such motivation could draw him back to Eorzea after finding out a Warrior of Light - well, a few - were active. He placed a hand to the tree, gave it a soft kiss. “Hope you don’t mind a bit of time apart. I’ll be back next Calamity.”

Alas, Minfilia had not gotten to return to her caravan - not as she hoped to, at least. Her back ached, her sides hurt. But that wasn’t the issue - they’d heard there was a strange beast snarling around Little Ala Mhigo, and adventurers tended to end those sort of things, right?

And as it came into view, it was quite the strange beast. It was metal - or at least coated in it - but screamed like a Behemoth. Behemoth did not have wings, though! Minfilia nodded to Fordola - noting the Brass Blades around, being knocked away. Drawing her dagger, Minfilia began to fight - though she felt herself flinching a little, as the injuries from the Ascian caught up to her. Coughing up a little blood, Minfilia barely noticed the other woman joining in the fight. The odd pink-haired one, who moved like another soldier - but used a gunblade. Perhaps some form of Garlean? No, if that was the case, then she’d be attacking both sides.

Fordola seemed to think the same, though, as she curled into the pouch. She didn’t fight, except to give soft snarls of fire. Mostly fired off when Minfilia could get close.

The metallic beast fell. The Brass Blades began to prod at it. But the pink-haired women gave a cold gaze at the beast. “How did a weaponized Behemoth get here? Must have followed me,” she said - before beginning to walk off. “…need to find that Ascian.”

—! Minfilia flinched, at the term Ascian being used out loud so easily. This single woman wasn’t protected, she was almost provoking them. Minfilia approached - before her pain flared up. “I— I fought them!”

The other woman turned, expression questioning - before seeming to accept such. “She still around?”

Minfilia shook her head, and the other woman snarled to herself. “Damnit,” she began, before focusing on the other - seeming to grow a tiny bit curious. “She let you live.” She walked towards Minfilia - Minfilia still trembling from her pain - before hoisting one of Minfilias’ arms over her. A wordless request to lean on her? To follow her. The two moved to the shade of the rock formations which made up Little Ala Mhigo, and then the strange woman in queer garb grabbed out a potion.

It looked… different to the potions Minfilia was used to, but she began to apply it to herself. It soothed the pain. The long tube was soon emptied, as Minfilia let out a sigh. “She gave me some clothes,” Minfilia said, as she unpacked the Temple clothes.

The other woman examined it for a few moments - before she shook her head. “Strange. She’s not the helpful type.” So this other woman knew her…? “I’m Lightning. I’ve been hunting her down since I arrived here,” she said. “Her and her kind.”

“Ascians?” Minfilia asked.

Lightning shook her head. “Yes. Both factions.”

Both factions…? Minfilia was confused, but a light entered her eyes. “My name is Minfilia. I work with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn - we aim to end the Primal threat, and that involves ending the Paragon threat, alongside the Garlean threat.”

Lightning scoffed, as she looked at the approaching sunlight. “Does it, now.” There was a roughness in her voice, a bitterness she dared not explain. And, again, Minfilia would not probe. “Which is more important to you?”

It was something Minfilia hadn’t thought about often, as she looked upwards towards the sun instead. “…currently, I suppose it’s whatever causes more Primal summonings. And that’s Garlemald - unlike Paragon, they seem easier to win over.”

Oh, that seemed to make Lightning frown - as she handed over another potion. “You want to win them over? You’d have an easier time making a new world.” Still, Lightning continued, looking right at Minfilia. “These Scions of yours - they’re the ones who stopped Ifrit and Ramuh, correct? I heard about that.”

Fordola popped her head out - and Lightning almost seemed to smile the slightest bit. “Yeah, they saved me from bein’ a mindless beast.” Fordola then crawled out - Lightning having to lift her gunblade away from the tiny lizard. “Used some weird magic bullshit I don’t get, but…”

“…you found a way to prevent her from fully changing,” Lightning whispered - looking away, masking her feelings again. “You— found a way to save somebody. Is that your goal, then?”

Minfilia nodded, and Lightning suddenly stood. “I know what I need to do now. Minfilia - I’ll come to your Scions once I need such.

…for now, though.”

“Wait—!” Minfilia said, standing as well - before letting out a groan. “Tell me about the Paragon I fought. You know her, right?”

Lightning sighed, shaking her head. “Her name is Prishe. We used to be allies. But she chose to put her hopes into a false god.” When Minfilia thought Lightning would elaborate, she instead seemed to shift subjects slightly. “Just like all of their kind. Just like…”

Lightning trailed off, suddenly growing stiff. Before looking at both Fordola and Minfilia. No, she had to trust these people. “If you are able to stop changes - I know somebody who needs such done. Few of them, actually.

They’ve all been mistaken for your Primals. I’ll track them down. You’ll seal them. Save them.”

It wasn’t a request - but it was something Minfilia would do anyway. She nodded. “Do you know where they are? This… people you need me to save?” Lightning shook her head, and Minfilia slumped a little. “Then… I’ll keep an ear out for your summons. For those who need to come to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, we have a passphase.

…Wild Rose.”

At that, Lightning stared. Lightning stared more, staring holes though Minfilia. Was she kidding…? No, she was so earnest. But how could they have chosen such? Firion was— Firion was long dead. His dream, romantic as it was, had faded away.

No, perhaps this was a memory passed down, like a lot were. That had to be it, Lightning thought, before she calmed herself. (But still. Firion had died long ago - he hadn’t made it though. They still all mourned him, in their own way. Fought for him. Even if this had been a war, they had become true companions.)

“Are you okay?”

Lightning snapped out of it, as Minfilia looked at her with warm concern. “…Reminded me of somebody I knew. That’s all.”

Minfilia wanted to ask more, but Lightning began to walk away - faster then Minfilia could keep up. And, thus, she was gone. Minfilia shrugged to Fordola, and they returned to their caravan.