It was the morning when the Warriors were going to leave. Alphinaud and Y’shtola stood together. “You’re going with them?” Y’shtola asked, looking at the new dawn.

Alphinaud nodded. “I want to see what Minfilia does.

…Y’shtola, can I ask you a favour?” Alphinaud mumbled, getting out a letter. Y’shtola gave a curious sound, and Alphinaud gripped it tighter. “You’ve been looking into the Warrior of Light. Well, I’ve been looking into Alisaie, as well. I just can’t believe that she’s been forgotten!”

A letter to Old Sharlayan, then, Y’shtola reasoned. “Who is it addressed to, in paticular? Kurin is heading that way to ask for answers on matters of the fair folk,” she mentioned casually as she took the letter.

Gulping back nerves, Alphinaud sighed. “My father. If anybody keeps records on my family, it’d be him. Even if I still recall he was so damned distracted when I was leaving—” Alphinaud began, before having to drop his voice. “—the homeland is in danger, Y’shtola. But Eorzea is at more danger, I thought. Primal and Garlemald both are more dangerous then one mage.” Alphinaud admitted - though he did fear for those of home. Could they truly keep their ideals with a threat like… brr. He shivered a little. He stepped out, towards the airship. “If you could give that to Kurin before he leaves, I’d appreciate it.”

Y’shtola nodded, firmly, as she watched Alphinaud climb onto the airship, alongside the adventurers and Cid. If they did not make it, she would be able to get more help…

The skies were filled with clouds. It was not quite cutting though them yet - it would take time to meet with Garuda, after all. Marques was steering, as Minfilia sat by the wheel. She looked up at him - his eyes were glazed over, barely focused.

Perhaps she could get him to focus. “Cid?” she asked, and his attention returned. “I have learned some information that might interest you.”

Giving a slight grunt, Marques looked down at her. Perhaps it was the clicking. How long was it taking for him to remember? How long until he saw himself as Cid? Minfilia wouldn’t ask. Instead, she gently gave him a slight smile. “The Warrior of Light. Their name was Cordis.

…they had a name, Cid.”

But instead of helping him focus, Cid suddenly froze - gripping his head. In a panic, K’pandolu and Phae ran to the airship controls. Alphinaud also rushed over, trying to take control. Cid fell backwards, and Minfilia dragged him to the side of the airship - her own burns beginning to ache again. He sat there, clinging to his head, trying not to scream.

His eyes opened again. They focused on Minfilia, as his breathing slowed. His voice dropped to a dark whisper. A horror filled his voice. “I… the clicking… I remember Cordis.” That was not what horrified him, mind you. And Minfilia could tell, as she gently began to stroke his cheek. Cid leaned into it. “…I remember where the clicking— where it came from.”

Cids’ voice dropped further, grew more terrified. “There was a Primal. Alexander. It stole me from the Enterprise, and claimed me. They still claim me.” As he spoke, as he admitted it, Minfilia let out a weak little gasp. But she did not move to her weapon, nor did she show hatred. Cid gave a little mumble, before realising she wasn’t going to take him out mid-airship ride. “I’m a thrall, Minfilia. And you are a Warrior of Light.”

Minfilia nodded, her own voice dropping to a whisper. “And I am also your friend. We will find Alexander and seal them—”

“—n-no. You won’t. The clicking… ahem, Alexander says so.” Cid began to cough meekly. “They are a God of Time—”

“Time, you say.” Minfilia knew she shouldn’t jump to conclusions, but— “From all I’ve heard of the Calamity, Alexander was not seen. And Belias has not mentioned any Primal of time. Perhaps… perhaps our problems have to do with Alexander.” The fact she’d been ripped from time. Was that possible? She looked into Cids’ eyes deeply, trying to look past them. Before her head began to ache, a vision coming on.

Perhaps she had peered too far, as Cid moved to hold her.

Minfilia Warde was not in an echo vision. It did not feel like one - it felt more like the vision she’d had from Rhalgr, when she turned back from crystal. The air was stuffy and smokey, aether that smelled like blood flowing around her.

And a massive machine was in front of her - all around her. It was almost a city, all around her, all enclosed. Cid stood in front of her, but something had changed. His body looked mechanical, half-replaced by steel and scars. Mouth slightly agape, Cid did not speak straight away. No, he looked behind Minfilia. Minfilia looked to her side - oh. Hythlodaeus had appeared in this vision as well. Well, that was a good thing.

“Did you cause this?” Minfilia asked, stepping forward - but not too forward.

Cid looked to Hythlodaeus, then to her. When he spoke, it was not his voice. It was… metallic, and not masculine nor feminine. Like that she imagined an automation would have. “Yes. I am the one who had chosen Cid as my new avatar. I am Alexander.”

There was more power behind that voice then Minfilia could fathom, and her voice was stolen. Luckily, Hythlodaeus stood up to speak for her. “Why did you choose him - and how could you hide yourself for so long?”

Alexander gave a soft whistle. “You ask much.”

“Will you answer?”

The enthralled body nodded. “You have forced your way into my head. Why would I not?” Was this what that was? Minfilia still felt her voice lacking, but Hythlodaeus kept a hand on her. “I have existed before this star, and will exist after it. But I cannot come forth without a shell.

A shell was provided for me, close to where I believe you called Sharlayan. The… Hinterlands?” Alexander - Cids’ body - began to pace as he explained, his feet heavy. Minfilia noted that his breathing had stopped - had he ever been breathing? “I calculate every possibility.”

“Could you have stopped the Calamity?” Hythlodaeus asked, as Minfilia silently thanked him. “Or the many wars these little ones have gotten into?”

Alexander shook their head. “You know how much of the lands’ energy is used by our kind. A problem with our conception - would you not agree, Hythlodaeus?”

Hythlodaeus shrugged. “Each action has a price. I simply had to ask, for Minfilias’ sake.”

With a strange look for a moment, Alexander continued. “While I cannot simply alter time, I can nudge it in better directions. In order to do that more effectively, I required a shell. I am not like others.

I did not want to steal a life.” As Alexander spoke, a second Cid appeared. One free of meddling, one made of flesh and blood. Eyes wide, shaking. The area changed - from the too-clean mechanical city to the final days of the battle. Above the Flats, on the Enterprise.

Cid watched in horror. Until everything seemed to slow, and a figure approached him. Minfilia could not hear what they were saying - but Alexander, thankfully, spoke up. “I had calculated that the best person for the job was Cid Garlond. He is… not quite Garlean.”

A pause. “I cannot tell you what he is. That is his choice to make.” Alexander looked back to the burning land below. “I came to him. I asked him if he would join me.

He thought the world was ending. He did not refuse.

…however, my own abilities were hijacked,” Alexander admitted. “By the one I believe you call Louisoix.”

Minfilia felt dread bubbling up once again, and shook her head. “He couldn’t have—”

“—It was an accident, I am certain. But due to my presence, his spell on Cordis and the other Warriors of Light there that day was not limited. One percent of all people across the star vanished. They were not simply ‘sent forward’ as I have heard some call it.” Minfila gulped, as the mechanical marvel stared right though her. “They were sent hurling though time. A scar I caused - and one I have been trying to heal.”

“How so?” Hythlodaeus asked, knowing Minfilia couldn’t.

Alexander beamed. “Time is a tricky thing. It is a puzzle to untangle - and the Gods are not making it any easier. Not the Twelve, but the crystals. However, I have nearly done such.”

The crystals— “Hydaelyn and Zodiark,” Hythlodaeus stated, expression growing soft, trying to give Minfilia the comfort she needed. “Why would they be so entangled?”

“They are the two Gods,” Alexander said quietly, “that sustain us, when the Worldeater comes. They protect, until they cannot anymore. They did, at least, before your kinds’ meddling.” This time, Alexander was speaking right to Hythlodaeus, not to Minfilia.

And Hythlodaeus knew it, his eyes narrowing. “You know I did not approve of their concept. But do you blame them?”

“No,” Alexander replied. “They did their best. I did not think that such a shield could be made. But it has made it difficult to untangle time from them. Even now, they will reclaim my domain.”

Minfilia was so damned confused, lost between these deities. Her voice slowly returned. “What about Cid?”

Alexander peered at her, before looking to the broken but free Cid. “Do you want him?” The question was violent, dark. Minfilia could not reason why - but her heart beat out her chest.

It wasn’t her choice to make, she realised. “Cid needs to make this choice. He… is missed. But I cannot force him to return. Still - please free him, so he can choose it.”

Alexander gave a little click - the area around them returning to the city. The gears clicked, and now Minfilia could hear what Cid could. Alexanders’ mechanical voice, calm and gentle. A safety blanket, a deep hug in vocal form.

The non-mechanical Cid fell from the gears, bloodied and beaten. He began to vomit up blood, blacked like used ceruleum. Minfilia could finally move, and she wrapped her arms around him. Weakly, Cid smiled at her.

Alexander looked to Hythlodaeus. “She is yours, then?” Hythlodaeus nodded gently, as they watched Cid and Minfilia snuggle close to each other. “The darkest nights come before the brightest dawns.

…but which is she? Is she still in that night?”

Hythlodaeus could not answer. They waved a hand, as the vision began to fade.

Thankfully for both Cid and Minfilia, they had not been rocked around the airship. The three who had taken control of the ship had landed it outside of Garudas’ arena. Aether ripped though the air, wind protecting them from the outside world. Minfilia woke shielding Cid, weakly giving a little grunt.

Cids’ eyes fluttered open. “…I guess I should thank you,” he mumbled, before shooting awake. For the first time in over five years, he was awake. The clicking still lingered, he still belonged to Alexander, but he could think. And he could see his airship, and he could see Minfilia, and he could see the other Warriors of Light, and he could see that child, Alphinaud.

Weakly, Cid smiled to them. “Gave you a scare, didn’t I?” he asked, mood having changed so very much. Everybody stared. He stood, stretching. “I’m back. Sorry for the wait.”

Strolling over to the controls, he stopped the Enterprise, giving a little soft frown. “It’s best if we don’t disturb the aether here more then it is.” Alphinaud stared up at him, so very perplexed. Cid shook his head. “Minfilia there helped me back from inside my own head.”

He would not tell them that he was a thrall, and Minfilia bit her tongue. She gave a glance into her bag, into Fordola - and Fordola knew that look. She nodded quietly. Cid then looked to the group. “Now, remembering Garuda, there’s going to be a lot of Ixal around. Can you Miqo’te hold them off?” he asked, looking towards K’pandolu and Phae. They both agreed, quietly. They all knew what Minfilia would be doing.

Minfilia dreaded it, as she stepped off of the airship. As she began to walk confidently towards where Garuda rested - which smelled of warm soup and dragons’ blood.

So it was true. She would be fighting an Ishgardian. Perhaps she could appeal to them. Gods, she hoped she could.