Papalymo had expected Minfilia and her adoptive mother would take a while to finish up, sure. But it was nearly midnight, and he could still hear laughs and happy squeaks from their room. Ah… how kind.

Papalymo shuddered, feeling a presence behind him. “Yda, I know. But we’ll let them have their time - without you.”

Silence. “We’ll get the Chocobo ready… tomorrow…”

Slowly turning, Papalymo almost expected to see Urianger looming over him. But instead, there was nothing. Swiftly, he pulled his sensor over his eyes, and he could see it. Hidden from regular view, an Ascian looming over him, with a beak-like mask. He couldn’t tell colours though this aetherial sight - but what Papalymo could tell is that there was, well. An Ascian. In their home. He drew his cane, and the Ascian floated backwards slightly. Not touching the ground.

That didn’t matter to Papalymo, as fire and ice flickered at his staff.

Within a moment, he was slammed though the door, letting out a horrific scream. Minfilia and F’lhaminn barely dodged his body.

Minfilia and the Ascian locked eyes. “…If you wish to speak with me, come outside,” he said, his voice steeped in the ancient tongue. “I raise no hand against you and yours. But yours do not extend the same courtesy.”

She did not like this, as the Ascian hovered away - outside, out of the Waking Sands. But Minfilia gave a glance to F’lhaminn - a nod, quietly. “Pray take care of Papalymo. I’ll find the source of this.” She dare not risk frightening more then had to know there was an Ascian here. One seemingly only she could see.

(Minfilia did not notice the way Urianger looked, as they walked past him, as Urianger looked towards the stairs. A lingering glance, eyes begging to see more of that gentle white, a curiosity Urianger wanted to understand. He would have looked at Lahabrea the same, if he’d not been in Thancreds’ flesh. It was a bit of a risk to the Scions.)

Swiftly, Minfilia made her way outside. The full moon lingered over them, the only light in the dark night, illuminating the floating Ascian in white - their red mask looking as crimson as Minfilias’ own Ala Mhigan heart. They looked to Minfilia, and smiled. “I am told that you are the Warrior of Light. But I would know for myself.”

No. She was no Warrior of Light. What were the Ascians saying about her? Minfilia took a hasty step forward, only able to stop herself when his dulled voice cut though the crisp air once more. “I shall walk north, and you may choose to follow. Know, however, that you will be waylaid if you do - you may even perish. Should you survive, we shall speak anon.”

Just as the Ascian asked, Minfilia went north. She left Vesper Bay, though the Footfalls, towards Moondrip. Monsters - Voidsent - littered the path, clicking and striking at her. Of course, Minfilia had to strike back. She had to knock them out - leaving them to recover. Soon, she arrived at the small fishing spot. The full moon glimmered in, illuminating the waters within - the only light in the cavern. It lit up the white-robed Ascians’ body, gold shimmering and nearly blinding Minfilia.

The Ascian tilted their head. “…I see you live - good. You are a curious one. Her Blessing beats within, and yet—”

“Pray explain yourself,” Minfilia said firmly. “Why would one of your kind come to the Rising Stones?”

“I could ask the same of you. Why would one of your kind use…”

“I asked first.”

Both of them looked at each other - neither moving. The lake separated them. “As a showing of goodwill - my name is Minfilia Warde. I am the emissary of the newly re-established state of Mor Dhona, serving under their King.”

The Ascians’ mouth twitched. “I am Elidibus. I am the emissary of the one true God.”

Names exchanged, both of them still remained still. Remained trying to read each other. His eyes narrowing behind his crimson mask, Elidibus spoke as plainly as the Ascian could. “You will go where the Wild Rose blooms. Who gave your organisation such a passcode?”

He found it queer, just like Lightning did. A long fallen ally of the immortals. Of the Conflict. Minfilia put a hand to her chest. “While I was not there at the time, it was a passcode my father used. For those he could inform. He told me a faerie tale where an orphan boy and his new family were recruited into a war, with that phase giving them protection.”

“A faerie tale,” Elidibus repeated quietly, amused. “You build your organisations’ trust on such?”

“Pray do not speak like that. Show a little more respect to faerie tales, Ascian.” A beat. “Besides. I simply work with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn - I do not choose what they use as their passcode.”

Elidibus replied in kind to Minfilias’ reply, a calm washing over him. “You are simply their ally? Interesting.”

Minfilia finally found her full voice. “I fight not simply to stop your schemes, but—”

Raising a hand, Elidibus stopped her. “You fought to stop Lahabreas’ plans. Not mine. He was… disobeying orders.” Or so Elidibus had heard. There was no reason to lie. “Our plans continue.”

Wait— what? Minfilia bit her lip, trying not to show her thought process. Her horror. Thancred had been possessed and hurt so much - and it wasn’t even an Ascian ploy? “You lie!” Minfilia replied, shouting.

Elidibus went cold. His voice became monotone. “In what time would an emissary lie about such? I have come to try and make amends for his… failure, but I do not take to such insults.” Elidibus began to move - to float past Minfilia again. Just as in her vision, his legs were unusable. “Your ignorance shall be the end of you, Child of Cosmos.

As it was, so shall it be again. I promise you this.”

Minfilia turned, to try and chase him. But Elidibus vanished, as many Ascians do.

The moonlight from the pond glimmered. There was silence for a long while, as Minfilia fell to her knees. This was the second time she’d met a new Ascian and insulted them. But Lahabrea - if he hadn’t been following their plans, then what had they been doing? Tears began to stream from her face.

That is, until she heard footsteps. Footsteps that were familiar - Minfilia looked up, and Thancred loomed. As soon as he’d finished with Zale - with Lahabrea - he’d returned to Vesper Bay. He’d used one of the few teleportation tickets that Urianger had made, since he heard Minfilia was returning. But, well.

Word spread quickly. And what it meant was that Minfilia was looking up at the cold-skinned Thancred, their eyes both showing so very much. Neither of them moved for a few moments.

It was Thancred who moved, to wrap Minfilia in his arms. He still knew they hadn’t talked since Ultima Weapon fell, but this would be okay, right?

Minfilia pressed her head into him. Her own body was warm, couldn’t feel the cold, due to her bond with a Lucavi. And yet, her tears still froze against him. Her fears and angers didn’t let themselves vanish. “…Another Ascian—” Minfilia choked out, before gulping down her feelings. “An Ascian in White struck down Papalymo. I followed him.

Their plans continue.”

Even if Lahabrea hadn’t been following them, to think all she’d done meant nothing—! Thumping a hand against Thancred, Minfilia looked up at him. “And you! Were you avoiding me? Were all of you afraid—”

“You made yourself quite scarce, Minfilia,” Thancred replied, his voice firm but calm. “But… you’re right, as always. I was afraid.

…how could I have forgotten you? How could I make it up to you?”

“…It’s hard,” Minfilia admitted. “To handle it.” Now both of them were on the floor, next to the moonlit pond. A few fish were visible, swimming silently. “I, too… I suppose I was afraid.”

It was so much easier when they’d forgotten. She could pretend she wasn’t hurting. “I missed you, Thancred.

…we should go back, I— my family— my mother’s alive.”

“The songstress?” Thancred replied, surprised.

Nodding, Minfilia remained cuddled up to Thancred. “She’s alive… and you’re alive… and even if we’re still clueless about the Ascian, we can do this.”

Movement, but neither of them noticed it. Perhaps it was just the wind, as a figure waited outside the cavern. “His name was Elidibus. He called himself their Emissary.

…I know it’s wrong, but—”

“It’s not wrong to hold bias, Minfilia,” Thancred replied softly. “They’ve hurt us.”

“I don’t believe that any Ascian could ever work with us, Thancred. Even as an emissary. I would sooner work with Garleans then Ascians.”

Both of them laughed, as Thancred - and by extension, Minfilia - began to stand. And that’s when they saw the silhouette in the cavern entrance. Minfilias’ eyes narrowed - it only took her a moment to recognize the other.

“Prishe.”

The outsider - the immortal - stood there, now leaning a little. “Took you long enough.” As always, Prishe had a teasing tone in her voice - but there was something deeper underneath. A look too firm. Under the moonlight, Minfilia couldn’t fully make her out - but there were more scales on her face, crystal crawling up her. She looked like an Au Ra now, but that shine was unlike them. “Hey, wait a second. You’re not wearing the gift I got you!”

The gift— “The stolen Temple gear? I’m no monk.” It was not Minfilias’ place. Prishe dug into her pockets, and then got out a small golden gem. A job stone…?

Thancred gave a protective grunt, and Prishe looked to him. “Come on. Like you haven’t taken weirder gifts,” she replied, speaking as if she knew Thancred well. Thancred gritted his teeth. “Don’t you trust me?”

The way she spoke… Minfilia looked between the two of them. “Thancred…”

Oh dear. Thancred knew that tone of voice. “I’ve never—”

“Did you sleep with her?” Minfilia finished, her tears now gone. A look of concern entering her voice. Even as Thancred shook his head, he could feel her doubts about it.

Looking to Prishe, Thancred narrowed his eyes. Funny. He swore he had seen her before. But she wasn’t his type? He tried to laugh it off. But before he could try and shake it off, Prishe spoke up again. “I guess you could say that?”

Both of the others looked to Prishe. She couldn’t help but giggle. “Anyway, that’s not why I followed you, Minfilia.” It was almost amazing how fast her mood could change, how she could go from teasing to having such a serious look on her face. “For one, I wanted to see… well. Elidibus. Seeing him confirmed something important.” Of course, Prishe didn’t say what it was. She sounded a little sad as she said so. “And second of all - you’ve befriended some of the Twelve, right?”

Minfilia took a step backwards, into Thancred. How did she know— but now, she could not deny it. “No fair! They suddenly appeared, and you get to be their friend? I’ve wanted to meet them for ages!”

Wait. Minfilia could get information. “How long—”

“Oh, um - not too long ago? Can’t have been before you were born.” Prishe replied. “But the myths - those have existed for a long time! And some of them sounded fun to meet!” How swiftly her face changed.

But Minfilia knew. She knew that she could not trust Prishe - even if Thancred had begun to smile slightly.

That is, until Prishe went quiet. She raised her hand. A linkpearl - it looked different. Older? She listened. The others couldn’t hear it - but Prishes’ expression grew dark. “They— what the fuck? And you didn’t know?” She lowered her hand, looking to the two others. Prishe shook her head. “Sorry, wanted to tease you two more. But something— something important’s come up. Maybe you’ll hear from Light that I caused it.

But we don’t want this place to die either. Got it?”

With that, Prishe suddenly vanished - tapping a ring to do so. A few moments passed, and Minfilia finally let herself relax. Thancred looked to her, a little chuckle in his throat. “Things just keep happening to you, hm? I… don’t blame you for leaving us.”

“And I don’t blame you for not tracking me down,” Minfilia replied. Leaning into him, Minfilia smiled softly. “Let’s go back to the Waking Sands. For one last night…”