It was not that Minfilia Warde had meant to seemingly abandon her companions - the Scions of the Seventh Dawn - as soon as the veil of amnesia had been raised from their eyes. She had been forgotten by them, and had fought to claim her place as an ally. But her path had taken her away from them. And to aid Belias, the Gigas, she had become more then aware how little she knew about the tribes of Eorzea. She had not known that the Gigas had a ruler, for example, until the Moogle known as Kurin had informed her such. And so, when the Ultima Weapon had fallen, Minfilia left. She left to befriend the tribes across Eorzea, to ally them with Belias’ nation.

Minfilia - and Fordola - had not expected it to take months. Going between them, doing tasks to shore up trust. Aiding them with their issues. The two lay on the beach of Western La Noscea, napping in the nursery - Minfilia resting in Fordolas’ grasp, as the clutchfather watched the two of them. They’d returned to bring some oranges, before collapsing exhausted.

The gentleness was interrupted by the snarl of Sahagin, an intruder was coming! Spears held to… the very calm-looking Y’shtola, who stopped her step. “We’ve been looking for Minfilia. May I come in?”

At her voice, Minfilia began to wake. Her ears - still mutated and changed from her deed of sealing away Primal with fae magic, kobold-esque now - twitched at the sound of her dear friend. Her scales, warmed by Fordolas’ burden of carrying the essence of Ifrit, gleamed in the sunlight. Standing gently, Minfilia shook Fordola a little. “I’ll come out to you. Apologies, friends.”

Walking though her Sahagin friends, Minfilia stopped a little before her Miqo’te ally, averting her gaze. Minfilia could not explain why she felt that distance between the two of them. Not physical, but… well. She’d slaved with them not remembering her. And now that Y’shtola had her kind gaze trained on Minfilia, it felt wrong. Had she earned this? Y’shtola, meanwhile, stood as firm as always.

By the Twelve, she was beautiful. Somebody Minfilia wished she could be like. Fordola stretched, following Minfilia, listening in.

“We are relocating from the Waking Sands,” Y’shtola stated, watching Minfilias’ expression grow angry. “We have gotten opportunities to escape from under the… issues that our current home has.”

“And what issues are they?” Minfilia replied, her voice firey.

“For one, your conquest of Ultima Weapon has caught the attention of others. And since you were hard to find, they came to us.” Not even to Belias! Then again, Minfilias’ relationship to the Lucavi was well-hidden. “From all across the nation. We decided, as a group, that we could not pledge ourselves to their causes.

The Syndicate has begun to threaten us. The lack of aetheryte is the least of our concerns.”

Continuing to speak, Y’shtola could see that Minfilia was not swayed. “It was Alphinaud who came to bring us an idea. We shall be relocating to the neutral territory of Mor Dhona—”

“—Mor Dhona is not neutral!” Minfilia finally said, her voice raising. Sahagin paid attention, ready to fight for her. Y’shtola took a step backwards, calculated. “Mor Dhona is the land of the Gigas, and Belias has decided to become active again! The Tonberry work with adventurers, and some Kobold have decided to settle in the mountains there! And you dare call them neutral territory?” Her hands bundled into fists, her glare building. Y’shtola had not expected such.

But she was not afraid. “To the three City-States we worry about - and the other nation asking for our aid - Mor Dhona is neutral. I do not mean to dismiss the rule of Belias, but… there is still a lack of respect for the beast tribes of Eorzea.”

Outward appearances. Minfilia had been focusing on building her ties to the beasts, before she could build them with people. For while the Echo made it easier to bond with her new friends, but people… people were different. Her focus did not waver. Her anger did not fade. “Have you discussed such with the Tonberry? Your relocation, I mean.”

“Yes,” Y’shtola said. “They were quite interested, especially when Tataru offered them new cooking recipes.

Papalymo has made this choice, after weeks of discussion. I decided it was best to let you know, before you entered the Waking Sands and found only Urianger there.”

“—Urianger is staying behind?” Minfilia asked, and Y’shtola nodded. “But why? Is he not one of us?”

“Somebody has to, and he volunteered.” Did he truly volunteer? Did he do it because he didn’t want to move, or was it because he didn’t want anybody else to miss out? Thankfully, Minfilias’ anger was fading. Oh, she was still pissed off. But she could share this with Belias, later.

Minfilia turned back to look at Fordola. Before nodding, and looking back to Y’shtola. “Is that all, then? You simply came to inform me?”

“Not exactly. Before we move out, a guest has come to the Waking Sands - one who wishes to meet with you.” Notably, Y’shtola did not say a name. “I feel it would be best if you met with them before we moved.”

Letting out a sigh - why was she so secretive, if she now remembered? - Minfilia gave a firm nod. “Tell your mystery guest I shall be there within the next few days. I should be able to take a break then.” She moved towards Lutia, to mount the larger then normal Red Chocobo, and then Y’shtola spoke up again.

“You have not gotten yourself a caravan yet?”

Pausing, Minfilia looked to herself. She’d wanted one, yes. But with her new job, and her focus on the beast tribes, she hadn’t gotten the time. Y’shtola then gave a little smile. “I believe our mystery guest may be able to provide such, as well.”

Would that Y’shtola would put a name to the mystery, but Minfilia never pushed. On the other hand, Fordola did - pushing past Minfilia slightly, tongue beginning to flicker like one of the Amalj’aa that summoned Ifrit into her. (The Ivalician method, as the Ascian had deemed it. Which was a little strange - why would it be named after that lost land? Was it only invented after Allag fell?

Or did it come from those from the Conflict, those weird immortals that Minfilia was not quite comfortable with?) “Oi. Y’shtola.” Fordola began, tail hitting the ground. “Y’think yout can put a name t’our mystery friend? Or are you gonna keep us in the dark?”

A shake of her head, and Y’shtola confirmed her thoughts though words. “This… guest is still wanted by many people. Even now. Thus, I must be careful. It is nothing negative, mind you.”

But they’d need to trust Y’shtola. Lutia let out a scream - the Chocobo beginning to grow impatient. Lutia was still skittish and disliked sitting still while she had somebody on her back. Fordola got the message, and climbed on behind Minfilia.

“…I will need to trust you,” Minfilia said, “and shall be there as soon as I can be.”

It was a pity, to Minfilia, that she could not go over to Mor Dhona to make her report to Belias. However, the trip back to Limsa Lominsa was slow enough - Lutia had an aversion to certain paths, especially those which were too dark-coloured. It also gave her time to calm down, time to grow less bitter over them.

However, the boat to Vesper Bay was a little more interesting. Minfilia planned on resting on the deck, as Fordola sunbathed. She did not, however, expect to see the larger-then-average Xaela - who could only be one person. One of her friends - Bolormaa, of the Dotharl. Adventurer who aided her.

In her hands was a large, pure Water Crystal. From the bulge in her pouch, there was another she was storing. Minfilia approached, a little quietly, so that she could assess the mood the darker-skinned Xaela was in.

But before she could get too close, Bolormaa turned on her heels - and quickly stashed the crystal in her bag. (Which, from the flash of it, seemed to be an Earth Crystal.) “Minfilia!!”

Before Minfilia could protest - as if she would - Bolormaa had lifted her into a hug. They rubbed noses together, and their hair tangled ever-so-slightly. They were close to the same tone, after all - even if Bolormaas’ faded to a soft pink, and Minfilias’ had begun to fade to a ever-so-slighly lighter blonde. Setting Minfilia down, Bolormaas’ large tail had begun to wag. It still carried scars on it… but a lighter section had regrown.“I didn’t know that Au Ra tails regrew,” Minfilia commented, as she unfurled her own tail.

Bolormaa paused. Looked to her tail. Looked back. “Most don’t. But a few do. It’s not as strong in that area anymore.” As if to show off, Bolormaas’ tail began to hit the wooden boat a few times. (It really didn’t show much.) And then, Bolormaa flopped down. Offering a hand, Minfilia sat next to her. “I didn’t know that you were in La Noscea.”

“I was. I was working on my relations with the Sahagin. What were you doing?”

“Oh, well,” Bolormaa said, getting out the crystals. “I… um. There’s this big tower, in Mor Dhona?”

Here they went again, Minfilia thought.

“And the Sons and the Gigas wanted to hire adventurers to survey and study it. To see if there’s anything…” Bolormaa was fidgeting in excitement. “Well, anything to help Belias! And also anything ancient Allagan! Actually, we’re waiting for a Sharlayan scholar and historian to arrive, as well, to come and help… or so I’ve heard! Which is weird, because I’m an Archon, but—!”

Bolormaa then stopped. And gave a little whine. “Sorry. I got excited.”

Minfilias’ scowl she’d not noticed had faded, replaced with a warm smile. “Pray do not feel ashamed. I was almost worried you’d gotten involved in harming the people of Mor Dhona.

The Crystal Tower is sacred to the Gigas.” Minfilia dare not add it, but she also thought it - she was certain some people would abuse all of this.

Sagely nodding, Bolormaa smiled. “I know.” She looked out to the sea, gently. Eyes closing. “My own beliefs are often mocked. And I’m often mocked for what I am. So I don’t want to hurt them.”

A beat. Before Bolormaa grinned, re-opening her oddly hollow blue eyes. “Oh! You can meet Bartz! He’s my friend!” Minfilia tilted her head. “He’s the one I was telling you about before Ultima Weapon - the one who I met after the Nadaam? Brown hair, a little dopey, trying to help his beloved?”

“Zid–”

A voice said from behind Bolormaa and Minfilia, before Minfilia turned, her ears twitching. Was this the brown-haired man that Bolormaa had just been talking about? He seemed to be - in loose blue clothes, a comfortable tunic. He was pale - almost too pale - with dull red eyes and white hair. If Minfilia didn’t know better, she’d mistake him for Cordis. (But he was a Hyur, and Cordis - the Warrior of Light who had vanished - was a Viera.)

Right away, he had a mix between an embarrassed grin and a regular smile on his lips. “Sorry. You looked like a friend of mine.”

“But she is a friend of yours,” Bolormaa said with a smile. “Because she is my friend. And you’re my friend.”

A beat. Bartz thought. And then he nodded. “You know when they’re good people, Bolormaa.” He slipped down on the other side of Bolormaa, offering both her and Minfilia some of the food he’d gotten. Fish, of course, cooked nicely. “Do you think you’ll get to Gridiana in time?”

Bolormaa shook her head. “No. So I hope that the other adventurer can do what he needs to… and doesn’t hurt himself.” Pausing, Bolormaa looked over to Minfilia. “A Primal was summoned while I was collecting the crystals. Um, but a bit of a weird one.

I didn’t know that Moogles had a god.”

“They don’t,” Minfilia replied, a little concerned. “They don’t have a creation myth like ours - but they do have figures in their mythology which could be seemed in a sort of similar light. One was summoned five years ago, actually.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” Minfilia replied, nodding to the others. “It was actually one of the most dangerous, before Dalamud fell.” She recalled that there were rumblings that Titan and Leviathan both were close to being summoned, but something had stopped it. Something stronger then the Gods, perhaps. “But— pray tell, who has been sent to fight them?”

“Another Ala Mhigan, actually!” Bolormaa said, as if Minfilia knew all Ala Mhigans. “His name is Arenvald, and he’s a good boy. He survived the slaughter.” Her grin wide, Bolormaa nodded. “When we could not get in contact with you, he begged to learn how you’d stopped Primals.”

“…You told him.” Minfilias’ face went pale. “Did he learn the side-effects—?”

“—He did.” Suddenly, Bolormaa looked serious. “Do you really think I’d let somebody get changed without… you know?”

Suddenly, Bartz spoke up, looking between the two of them. “You seem pretty wound-up, Minfilia - was it? What’s up?”

“What is up,” Minfilia said with a soft sigh, “is that I am being left out of major choices - both in Mor Dhona and when it comes to Primal.” Minfilia grumped quietly, leaning backwards. “I understand I was unreachable by most, but I did not even feel my glyph - and yet, the Scion wish to move close to the Gigas’ land?”

What was she to either side? Bartz put his hands in his lap, looking upwards. “You know now.” His voice was not demeaning, however. No, he seemed to understand more then Minfilia could get from his words. “And since they’ll be closer, you’ll be able to get information from both groups faster, right?”

Damnit… this Bartz fellow was charming, kind. “You’re one of them, aren’t you?” One of the eternal Warriors, who came from before time for some form of Conflict. Minfilia knew quite a few of them. She had befriended some - Lightning and Snow, for example. And others - such as Prishe - were her enemy. 

Bartz grew quiet. Frowned. “…Yeah. Yeah, I am. But it doesn’t make anything I say more or less important.” His voice barely wavered, as he leaned forward. “Trust me - even if you’ve got some power, it’s not a bad thing making friends with people from all walks of life.”

Minfilia looked him over. Honest, charming, and kind. And he truly didn’t seem to be hiding anything. “What brought you and Bolormaa together? I heard that you were in the Steppe, but other then that—”

“Well, it’s actually a funny story,” Bartz replied, now beaming. “I’ve been looking for a cure for a rare illness. It’s hit another of us immortals - leaving him stuck and… sick. But I ended up bumping into Bolormaa and she offered to help.”

“Bump into?” Bolormaa replied, tail hitting the ships’ deck. “You were injured! I had to make sure you were okay, and I took you back to Esthar.”

“Right, right,” Bartz said. “And then we decided to head out together, after you were spooked.”

“Not my fault! Their leader feels… wrong.”

Minfilia listened, until a term she’d only heard from Belias came up. Bartz had a sombre look. “Of course he feels wrong, he was one of those Twelfth Cyclers.”

“Pardon me,” Minfilia said, “but did I hear you right? Belias told me of those ones - the ones like Lightning. That they sacrificed themselves, but then… something happened?”

“Right,” Bartz replied. “The six or seven - maybe eight - who got caught up in it came back wrong. I don’t think that Belias would know too much about it - he’s only as old as the third Ivalice.”

“…Third Ivalice.”

“Yeah. There’s the one Vaan was from, the one Ramza was from, and the one that was made here on this planet.”

Every time Bartz said something, Minfilia had more and more questions. Those, however, would need to wait, as Vesper Bay came into view - and as Fordola came out from belowdecks, letting out a loud yawn. Standing up, Bartz stretched as well - as did Bolormaa. “So. Bartz and me will report to Papalymo and check on Arenvald. And you, Minfilia—”

“—will come with you. I wish to see this other who’d give himself to aid in a non-lethal Primal fight. Besides. Papalymo called for me to meet with somebody else.”