The site on the other side of the door, behind the throne room in the Wanderers’ Palace, held… stalls? No, not quite stalls, but the remnants of them. Fabric ripped from them, as they blocked the way. A few Tonberry wandered nearby - fleeing as fast as they could as soon as the door opened. Fordola had tottled back to where Alisaie had… devoured… the Voidsent-esque Tonberry and picked up its’ knife, carrying it on her back. (She still loved the weapon from Bolormaa, but she might be able to do something with a knife as big as her.) But this was… well, it wasn’t a settlement, as Minfilia knew it. She put an arm up - half-blocking Alisaie - as she began to gently shift the wood blocking them.

“…Alisaie, do you smell that… scent? The one of the Voidsent?” Minfilia asked, finally accepting that Alisaie truly was this sort of creature. And she didn’t need to lie, so she hadn’t lied. About any of this. Alisaie nodded quietly, and Minfilia sighed. “So that one was not the one which… spreads the illness.”

Alisaies’ movements - her strength - was quicker. She could remove wood a lot faster, as her hair-tail curled around her body. “I’ll hunt it. You— you find out more about these Tonberry. With that big one gone, they should be thinking clearly.”

A pause. And before Minfilia could ask, Alisaie nodded. “It’s a theory we have about the Primal back home. When I— when thralls get close to them, they become even more mindless.” The path finally cleared, the three women began to move forward - Fordola beginning to slow, warily looking at Alisaie. Unlike Minfilia, Fordola watched her every twitch - how her body seemed to have calmed, how her tongue was growing sharper and more focused. Still, her body was a dangerous weapon. Moreso then an Eikon like her?

…No. Fordola was the more dangerous one, if she was ever freed. Minfilia would need to take her down, or seal her again. (Fordola barely noticed the slight blush coming to her cheeks - at the thought of fighting with Minfilia, tackling her down in a fight for life and death.)

Dropping onto all four, Alisaie sniffed the air. “…you’re not much of a fighter, Minfilia.”

“I can still fight.”

“No, no.” Alisaie said. “What I mean is… you don’t need to be much of a fighter.” Minfilia tsked, but Alisaie continued quietly, still trying to catch the scent of whatever Voidsent was down here. “The Minfilia I knew of - she barely left her desk. But you know what? She gathered. She did diplomacy. And without her, the Grand Companies would have given in to…”

Alisaie trailed off, trying to pretend she’d caught the scent. Fordola bonked into her leg. “Given in to what, huh?”

Minfilia interrupted, looking to them both. “Alisaie. You— you don’t need to tell me—”

“Bullshit!” Fordola finally yelled.

Everybody looked down and over to Fordola, her voice raised higher then it should be. “I’m sick of you not asking questions! Diplomacy or not, you’re being an idiot! Alisaie’s here to help us! What, you’re afraid of scarin’ her off? We’re stuck down here together!”

The whole area grew silent - the only movements a slight squishing sound as a Tonberry or two watched from around a corner. (Minfilia had noticed them already, but did not bring them up.) Minfilia cleared her throat a little, looking down to her hands a little. Alisaie froze, and stood again, dusting herself off.

“—My apologies, Fordola. I must admit, I’m— a little scared. But… Alisaie, please. What is risking the Grand Companies?”

Deep in thought, Alisaie crossed her arms. And then looked to them. “I wasn’t too invested in Eorzea at the time. But Garlemald has a superweapon they’re reviving. And with it, Gaius van Baelsar came to the Alliance with terms of surrender.

They nearly took them. But you convinced them that we could fight back.

But, Minfilia.”

Minfilia focused right on Alisaie again - though she gave a soft look right to the Tonberry who watched them - she’d deal with them after this. “Yes, Alisaie?”

“Don’t grow overconfident. Things are already different here - don’t know you’ll convince them just because you did in my time.”

Alisaie looked so concerned - and Minfilia gave her a warm smile. “Worry not - I’d never do such. But… thank you for trusting me, Alisaie.

Now. You - over there. Please, fear not.”

The few Tonberry froze, as Alisaie and Fordolas’ gazes slowly shifted over there. Minfilia kneeled - she knew it wasn’t respectful for Lalafell, but she had learned to do it for some Beast Tribes - plus, honestly, she was feeling oddly tired in this underground palace. After a few moments, one of the Tonberry slowly walked forward, their tail slapping against the ground heavily - wetly. It looked up at her with those hollow glowing eyes, mouth trembling.

The Tonberry seemed shocked as Minfilia did not attack, as she smiled at them. Minfilia offered a gentle hand - holding it out - and the Tonberry rested their head on her hand. “Flesh…” the Tonberry whispered - a sensation they had forgotten, so long ago. They began to rub gently across her hand - Minfilia responding in kind, stroking their chin.

Alisaie didn’t watch for long, the scent of Voidsent entering her nose. She began to walk off - and Minfilia looked from her, to the Tonberry. “My apologies for asking - but we are seeking a Voidsent. My… friend here can defeat them with ease.”

“…She killed the king, didn’t she?” The friendly Tonberry asked, still leaning into the pets. Minfilia nodded, and the Tonberry let out a little squeak. “That king made us fall into our rancor. Our hatred. Though he might rise again.”

“Is it proximity to him which fills you with such?” Minfilia asked, as she kept one eye on Alisaie. She was moving with purpose, and Minfilia didn’t have time to help - but, she would still help. Hopefully, Alisaie wouldn’t attack any Tonberry…

The Tonberry nodded, and Minfilia then got an idea. “I— have a friend who lives far away, and has somewhere safe for those distrusted outside of the city-states outside.” Minfilia did not dare summon Belias, mind you, but she slightly channeled energy - letting Belias know that she was speaking of him. Could he listen though this? Minfilia would need to call him later. “If it would protect you, I can seek a place there.”

Curiously, a few more Tonberry were now approaching, investigating Minfilia - one or two of them touching her, touching her arm scales. Fordola kept an eye on them, huffing a little. The one Minfilia was stroking let out another pleased squeak. “I would like that. There’s not much more we can study here, anyway.”

“Study…? What were you studying?”

The Tonberry finally moved away from her hand. “A cure to our curse. Those here are the brightest Nymian scholars who grew sick. Doctors and Scholars… but we fell sick, and got sealed with the rest. How is Nym going?”

Alisaie stopped herself, and turned back. “Nym is long gone. Your war ended in causing a flood, and drowning most of your home. And it wasn’t the last calamity.”

The group of Tonberry turned to Alisaie, mumbling between each other in the Nymian tongue. Quicker then Minfilia could translate. The leader of them looked up at Alisaie, before nodding. “And you want to consume the weapon that was sent to us,” they confirmed. While the Tonberry did not know it was a Mhach plot, they had sealed a Voidsent in the lowest parts of their Palace - after it had been awoken by the Kobold who had taken up home in their long-abandoned settlements. (Minfilia would not think they’d want to return there. And she was right, but for a different reason then she thought. These ones had spent so long here, in Nymian ruins - anywhere would be preferable to somewhere like here.)

Alisaie gave a lick of her lips. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen so many Voidsent.” Since she’s felt so full. Her expression grew excited, as a few of the Tonberry broke off to lead her off.

The lead Tonberry began to follow, as well - Minfilia trailing. “We were trying to reverse-engineer their weapons. Mhach, I mean. But it made us weak to control, after we became monsters.”

A little sigh, as Minfilia watched - some of the Tonberry were now breaking wards on a heavily magicked door. “Do you think that you’re monsters?”

“Obviously,” the Tonberry said, looking at their flippers. “What makes you think we’re not?”

“For one,” Minfilia said softly, “you have sharp minds and reasoning skills. Even if you do not look like those outside, I believe that looks do not dictate what you are.

…my belief is seen as strange, I know. Even now.”

Pain entered her voice. Even five years after the Calamity, Minfilias’ heart ached. Had she even acomplished anything? Had she changed any minds? Burying her feelings, Minfilia was about to say more - until she heard the large doors scraping open. Alisaie wiggled. And Minfilia turned away.

“I— recommend you do not watch how my friend ends Voidsent.”

Unlike the Tonberry King, it took longer to devour the Voidsent they had sealed - Alisaie snarling and gobbling down the beast. Was she full? Or was the creature just stronger then she expected? Alisaie wouldn’t say, as the group left the ruins. As soon as they left, Minfilia had to ask…

“Will you be going straight to the Kobold, now? This should stop the plague from hitting them,” Minfilia said softly. “I first must call upon Belias to gift these Tonberry a new home.”

Alisaie paused, before sitting down. “I want to see this Belias. I— don’t know who he is.”

Nodding, Minfilia channeled aether though her glyph, focused - and suddenly, the giant Gigas towered over them - fur seeming to be a little more fluffy then usual. Belias fell to all fours - letting out a loud roar. His body tense, he glanced around - before realising that, this time, Minfilia wasn’t in danger. Sheepishly, he lowered his head. “My summoner. What is it you ask of me?”

Minfilia explained her situation - Belias listening intensely, almost seeming soft as she spoke of the rights of the Tonberry. To see a new world, and to see a world after the Calamities. What he said shocked her, a little. “Ah, little one… I know of the players in the War of the Magi.

To think, they survived… and you wish to help them thrive? I wonder if…”

Belias trailed off, quietly, voice growing bitter once again. He saw that look in Minfilias’ eyes. “I’m sorry.” He would not burden her with his own deep questions. Before he spoke more, though, Alisaie interrupted - and Belias looked down at the cursed woman.

Alisaie had gone up to him, a hand pointed up at his shoulders. “You’re injured.”

“…what injury do you see, little stilled one?”

“Well, maybe the massive scars?”

Alisaie wasn’t lying - Belias had massive scars on his shoulders, stitched up quite messily. The stitches - made of leather, it seemed - were frayed and slightly rotten. Belias let out a deep, sad chuckle. “Oh, stilled one… when my home fell, I had to fit in with the Gigas of Eorzea. They only have two arms… and, thus, I could only have two.

I am Belias, the Gigas, to them. They do not know of before.”

That explained it… but also opened up so many more questions. Alisaie would not hold them back, not like Minfilia. “So you cut them off to fit in? You’d rather multilate yourself then explain yourself?!”

The sad, slow nod from Belias made Alisaie pause - even she could feel the old wounds opening. “…You need to get those wounds checked out. I don’t know what the hells you are, Belias, but that looks disgusting. And if you’re protecting Minfilia, you can’t fall ill, got it?”

Alisaie was acting protective, even if Minfilia was older then her… Minfilia couldn’t help but smile under her breath - hiding it by raising her hand over her mouth, looking back to the Tonberry. Belias almost looked shocked, under his mask - but then, Alisaie spoke again.

“…that mask— you’re not Garlean, are you?”

Belias looked down at her, expression dark. “No. I could not— why do you ask, stilled one?”

Alisaie pointed a clawed finger right at him. “Because your mask looks just like that of Noah van Gabranth. He— he does exist here, right?” Alisaie said, her confidence wavering. Minfilia nodded, though, and Belias suddenly looked away. None could tell the mood of the Esper, and would any want to? Something suddenly hurt, and it seemed it was the mention of Gabranth.

Minfilia moved, and put a hand to Belias. “I’m sorry, Belias. I’ll not ask - if you need space, you may…”

“I should go. I— cannot transport your friends, little Minfilia. But I shall ask Chlodebaimt to do so,” Belias snorted, his voice scarily emotionless. His body did not shake nor shudder - but he then looked to Alisaie again. “Stilled one. I would ask for you to never mention that man again. Not— not until we know more.”

Without Minfilia releasing the aether herself, Belias vanished into flame. The air - the night sky - overtook the skies once more. Silence reigned for a few moments, before Minfilia quietly lifted her finger to her ear - to her Linkpearl.

She might as well talk with Chlodebaimt herself, right? But before the call went though, Alisaie looked to the ground, kicking at it. “…Listen, uh. Once we’re done with these Tonberry, we’ll go make and have that meeting with the higher Digs.

That’ll help, right?”