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Momodi: That being said, I do love to hear about certain... intimate stories with men. 

Jessaria cringes, "...sure. You do that."

"Not a fan of doing this guy's dirty work," Jessaria grimaced, "but that other guy definitely needs to be warned, if only for his own safety."

Jessaria: Are you the First Blade?

Mylla: Indeed. So you're our latest re-

Mylla: I'm sorry, you seem to be a bit red. Is something wrong?

Jessaria thinking: tall... not to be a lesbian but oh my goddess holy heavens fuck help me

Momodi: you're the type to but your nose into other people's business. 

Jessaria: isn't that exactly what you told me to do???

Stuck-up dancing guy: I only consider those that dance. 

Jessaria: excuse me!?

Stuck-up dancing guy: If you're not going to dance, then you're of no interest to me. 

Jessaria, wearing a very strained smile: ...fine.

"...to think she'd pick your adventuring over me," the stuck-up muttered. Reluctantly, Jessaria agreed, "that ... That girl's gonna get herself killed, isn't she?" 

"Undoubtedly," the man huffed.

"MOMODI!" Jessaria yelled as she burst through the doors. As if reading her mind, the lalafell winced in sympathy, "just missed her, I'm afraid." 

"Damn it," the gladiator cursed, "any idea where?" "Nope," Momodi shook her head, "I wouldn't worry though. Got the air of a mayfly's attention span, that one."

"Huh?" Jessaria turned to see a light-haired viera dressed in pink poking her. She only laughed at Jessaria's questioning expression and ran off.

Jessaria: ...what was that about?

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For a significant portion of her stay in Lin Lomisa, Jessaria could've sworn someone was watching her. No one in town, however, had reported any stalkers to her knowledge, and she couldn't find Merlwyb and ask. 

Even if she did, Jessaria didn't know if she could. The gunslinger was... very hot. 

On the plus side, she made a friend in the form of Wastlleid! Wonder if they'll ever cross paths again... 

Come to think of, that feeling of being watched was most recurring when the Gladiator was dealing with the criminal activities of the city. 

This came to ahead when she ventured into Sastasha.

The final batch of pirates before the end of the trail were proving difficult. Jessaria managed to get past them, but not without significant strain.

She had finally chased down Captain Madison and moved to attack. 

Clang!

Suddenly, her blade met an axe. Guarding the captain was a Sun Seeker Marauder. He had purple hair, orange eyes, and was dressed in basic miq'ote clothing.

Jessaria leapt back to create distance as the pirate captain laughed. 

"Nicely done!" Madison smirked, "this here's Leif, me best man! He's been keeping an eye on ya and knows every trick in ya book!" 

The gladiator huffed and readied herself for a fight. 

"Now y'en," the man continued, "she don't look half bad, eh leafy boy? Tell ya what, why don't you have your way with 'er when this is done?" 

Scratch that. The dark bluenette snarled. If this bastard thought she was just going to-

"It will be done," the miq'ote nodded before promptly gutting Madison.

"Agh!" the Captain staggered, "w-why-?" 

"Merlwyb sends her regards," Leif scowled as he tore his axe from the hyur's chest. 

"Mer-!" Madison realized as he stepped back, clutching the wound, "y-you'll pay for this, you-"

His words were defeaned by a loud splash and rasping roar. A waterlogged spear erupted from his chest. 

"You sully our spawning groundsss, shorewalker," an imposing sahagin rasp. With a swing of its arm, the pirate's body detached from the weapon and flew to the side, forgotten.

"What-Who!?" Jessaria exclaimed. "Denn the Orcatoothed," Leif scowled as he leapt beside her, "get ready!" 

"Right!" the gladiator focused.

"Fools!" Denn rasped, "the Lord of the Whorl shhhhall ssssup upon your soulssss!"

The battle won, Jessaria sheathed her weapon. "Okay," she said breathily, "it's over. Time to head back."

With a deep breath, the gladiator closed and reopened her eyes, "thanks for he-"

Leif was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did-" she pondered, "wonder what that guy's deal was." 

She shook her head and turned around.

But even as she set out for Gridania, Jessaria couldn't help the occasional feeling she was STILL being watch. 

Before the gladiator knew it, another Echo had taken effect.

"Captain Madison was killed, as was the sahagin liason," Leif bowed. 

"Well done, Leif," Merlwyb nodded, "and Jessaria?" 

"Her business here appears to be concluded, ma'am." 

The admiral hummed in response, "we've been at an impasse for some time, and she has even gained renown as the Hero of Ul'dah. Events seem to be turning around Ms.Withrough. Keep an eye on her. Assist if need be."

"Yes ma'am."

The vision faded as the hyur stumbled, slipping and falling over something.

"Huh? What's this?" 

She picked it up; a small crystal, imbued with the colors of Limsa Lominsa. Its presence felt similar to that Marauder guy.

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Fuck! The Lambs of Dalamud had apparently foreseen a raid on their operations. The cathedral was swamped with Ashkin, and everyone in the vicinity was fighting them. Even Leif was there, for some reason! 

Jessaria cut down one foe and two more attacked! There weren't this many the last time she was here! Worse, even with the other tanks, the creeps seemed focused on her! 

The gladiator grimaced as she unleashed yet another spin attack, panting for breath. 

I... I don't know how much more I ca-

"Heal!" 

Suddenly, the gladiator felt her aches and fatigue subside! The hyur glanced in the direction of the voice, revealing a Wildwood with concentrated pink hair obscuring one of her turquoise eyes. She dressed primarily in white and purple, but there were numerous bits and pieces in cyan.

"Ha," Jessaria laughed, "talk about timing!" "I'm relieved I made it in time," the Conjurer replied with a warm smile, "Reina Shiroma." 

"Jessaria Withrough," the midlander replied. "I know," Reina nodded, "the Elementals told me of you, but we must talk later, after the deed is done!"

Turned out, these "elementals" sent Ms.Shiroma to aid Jessaria during her stay in the region. The hyur was... concerned about their interest in her, but the conjurer assured her that the Elementals merely recognized her connection to Hydaelyn(who?).

Yeah, apparently Jessaria doesn't have the best memory. Could be worse, though.

After defeating Galvanth, Reina gifted Jessaria a Summoning Crystal to request her aid when need be.

"Think of it like a Linkshell, but with transportation abilities included."

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Not to be lesbian, Jessaria thought when she met Miounne, actually, that's totally a lie. Holy goddess on high help me save from medusa's slender gaze!

"Oh, its you, Jessaria!" Momodi exclaimed, "and there I was spouting the same tired line! Miounne sent word that you'd be reporting for duty! She also made a point callin' you the Adventurer of the Moment. That ain't no small praise coming from her. But you didn't come all this way to listen to my prattle. Doubtless you're eager to get started, so let's talk business, shall we? The petitioner ought to be arrivin' any moment now..." 

"Gods, almighty! Another second under that sun and I would have been set afire! A tankard of ale, if you would be so kind!" a familiar voice said. Jessaria spun in the direction of the sound.

"Papashan," she waved, "been awhile." "Why, if it isn't my good friend!" the baked lalafell agreed. "Excellent timin," Momodi complimented, "it just so happens the adventurer who'll be handlin' your petition is here."

Suddenly the friendly atmosphere turned awkward.

"I-I see," Papashan coughed. "Is something wrong?" the gladiator asked. "I've been meaning to tell you, Momodi," he gestured, "the job's already been taken." 

"What," the proprietoress blinked. "Yes," the stationmaster nodded, "by an thaumaturgist au ra. He insisted on tending to the corpses down there."

"Oh," Momodi sighed, "him. Jessaria, would you mind going after Waltez? He's a bit of a lone wolf and hasn't garnered the reputation you enjoy. The Thaumaturgist Guild holds him in high regard though."

"Sure," the hyur nodded, "just fill me in on the details."

"Momodi and Papashan sent me to provide backup," Jessaria explained to the Stone Torch, "apparently this Chroma guy didn't take no for an answer." "Very well," the armored man stepped back, "but don't blame me if you get yourself killed." 

"Stop!" Jessaria yelled as she tackled a Xaela dressed like a white mage from the hammer's path. He had dark skin, yellow eyes, and dark green hair with blue highlights.

"There's no need for this," the gladiator pleaded, "your slavers are dead and gone!" 

"IMPRISONED TOO LONG" the hecatoncheir roared, "WE ARE FREE! DEAD OR NOT, MASTERS MUST PAY!"

"Damn sins of the father," Jessaria swore under her breath, passing the thaumaturgist behind her a potion."

Battle won, while the thaumaturge tended to the body, Jessaria knelt to the ground beside the corpse and dragged a finger through it, drawing two quarters of a circle barely connected to each other. 

"May you find peace in whatever great Hereafter you believe in," she spoke solemnly.

"They threatened Ul'dah," the thaumaturgist behind her muttered, "I doubt Nald'thal will welcome them into his halls." 

"Good thing I wasn't invoking Nald'thal then," Jessaria spat as she stood up, "you're Waltez, right?"

"Waltez Chroma," he confirmed, "I apologize, I spoke out of turn." 

"It's not me you should apologize to," the gladiator shook her head tiredly, "I was called in for backup." 

"I see," Waltez nodded, "you're Jessaria Withrough, aren't you? The hero of Ul'dah." 

"Got in one," she shrugged, "let's go head by back."

"I didn't recognize that sigil you drew. Where'd you learn it?" 

"Dunno. Home town was pretty conventional religiously, if a bit lax, I just kinda figured out my own thing, and picked that up somewhere along the way."

"Thancred wants a word with me. I guess here's where we part ways?" Jessaria asked. "Indeed," Waltez agreed, "but if you ever require my aid, use this. I can't guarantee I'll always answer, however." 

With that, he gave her a small crystal with colors reminiscent of Ul'dah. 

"What a curious soul," he pondered as he walked off.

Jessaria meanwhile just stared at the item. "What's next, are these things going to drop out of the sky?"

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"I have you!" Jessaria declared as she knocked the fake Inquisitor.

"True," he laughed, "but I have your friends!"

Jessaria whipped around to see her allies surrounded. "Damn you," she spat as she ran to help them.

"Even with you, they're outnumbered!" The evil wizard guy replied as he gave chase, "you can't defeat all of us!"

"Watch me," the hyur snarled.

"And all Ishgard shall-ugh!?" before Guillaime could finish his sentence, Jessaria ran him through.

"I care not for the sins of the father," she hissed in his ear before gutting her blade out.

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Microfic time:

Skaetswys: Have you no spine!?

Gi Gu: *sigh* No, no I do not...

"Hey," Jessaria threw her arm, "that is WAY out of line, Skaetswys!"

"Look," the Wasp scoffed, "I don't know kolbold 'ierarchies from an 'ole in the ground. What I do know is that if anyone talked to me like that, I'd go to the seventh 'ell and back to cut 'im down to size." 

"But you are strong," the kobold protested, "bold, brave, strong, and i am..."

"You are yourself," Jessaria cut in, "and that's what matters." She shot a scathing glare at Skaetswys, "very few have the privilege of strength, and even fewer have the heart to use it, let alone the choice. I agree these kolbolds should stage a revolution, BUT I would not ask their blood to be so eagerly spilled. Not everyone wants to join the fight, they just want the nightmare to end, and I'll sooner die than fault them for that."

Much MUCH later...

Jessaria grumbled to herself as she sat by the fire. "Ba Go testing your patience?" Skaetswys asked. "Ba Go testing my patience," the Paladin confirmed, "here I am, trying to be an idealist in this bleak realm, and then here's this lazy, self righteous little prick!"

"But while you're busy with Gi Gu," Jessaria slumped, "Ba Go is the only other go-between at the moment..."

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As she climbed in, Jessaria gave the machine a friendly pat, "welcome to the world, whoever you turn out to be. I'm sorry it couldn't be under less pragmatic circumstances."

'People are trained to use this?' the paladin thought as she looked over the controls, 'it seems pretty intuitive to me. That stick's for walking and running, that button's for jumping, and these levers are for more direct control of each of the legs.'

She squinted, "i don't know what those other things do. Probably weapon systems, but which is which? Now's probably not the time to find out. I can ask them later.'

"Hmm, how to get down from here," Jessaria later pondered before getting a glint in her eye. "What do you think?" she asked, patting the machine again as a sly smile formed on her face, "let's live dangerously."

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"Life without fear of persecution or oppression," Jessaria muttered, repeating the garlean's words. Shaking her head, the hyur unsheathed her sword and pointed it at Rhitahtyn. "I don't buy it," she scowled, "persecution is never a self-conscious task. It's not oppression if it's justified, you tell yourselves. You already proved yourself hypocrites when you let one of your lip-armored buddies slaughter dozens for the crime of being in the way."

"Look upon me," Rhitahtyn replied, "I am no son of Garlemald, yet Lord van Baelsar saw fit to raise me to a station of great honor. He measures a man not by his birth, but by his worth. Such is his sense of justice. By the grace of His Excellency, I am where I was born to, upon the field of battle. He has given me-"

"Worth?" Jessaria spat, her head shaking slightly, "WORTH!? You have no RIGHT to talk to me about WORTH! You use people and call that value!"

"If you are deaf to reason..." the armored man, "in the name of-"

"Exploitation at its finest," Jessaria interrupted with a snarl, "I'M TAKING YOU DOWN!"

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"At last," Lahabrea said, though he clearly wasn't happy with Jessaria's revival, "Her strength is well and truly exhausted."

Blue aura flared from the Warrior of Light, but she remained struggling to stand.

"The light of the crystals have rejuvenated you," the Ascian continued, "only for you to die regardless. Their power isn't enough. You're not enough."

Three of the crystals, those of the primals, suddenly returned, orbiting Jessaria. 'What's happening!?' they both thought. Lahabrea moved to finish the job, but his efforts were blocked by topaz rapidly rising from the ground.

The paladin, meanwhile, screamed, not noticing herself beginning to float. Thancred went the amber, only for a fiery claw to grab his face, scratching at him in the same instant, and send him flying through the powdered rubble.

"This power..." Lahabrea grimaced, struggling to get up as 4 ethereal wings emerged from Jessaria's back, creating a powerful gust to establish distance.

The warrior of light opened her eyes and felt her newfound power. Titan, Ifrit, Garuda, they were... helping her? How, WHY!?

She looked at her weapons, previously torn from her grip. She saw Thancred follow her gaze. She looked to her arms, each glowing with topaz and ruby energies.

With a yell, Jessaria forged the energies into the Sword of Ifrit and Wall of Crags, and together with Garuda's power of Flight?

She felt better than ever! 

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Briardien: What's your name?

"Jessaria Withrough."

Briardien: An unremarkable name, but it will suffice.

"Ex-fucking-cuse me!?"

"I've my own suspicions," Jessaria said carefully. The inspector nodded, "the answer is self-evident; the Brass Blades. Strong in number, few of words, and with the bride's father's complete trust."

Jessaria hummed, crossing her arms, "possible, but there's also that miq'ote that was leaving the scene while the two of you were arguing loud enough for everyone to hear." 

"Ridiculous," Briardien scoffed, "I've already made a point to question the Brass Blades in the area."

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Sent with Gilgamesh to get a chimera whatsit, Jessaria did NOT expect to meet Avila again, let alone for Avila to not hate her guts!

"Consider this a debt paid," Avila said, "and good luck with whatever you need that for."

"Y-yeah," Jessaria smiled uneasily, red creeping into her cheeks, "y-you too..." 

The other woman blinked at her in shock before her sister dragged her away, obliviously planning to tease Avila about it. 

"I can't believe it! The Warrior of Fucking Light is totally crushing on you!"

"That can't be right! She's the single most unavailable woman in the realm!"

"But you blushed too~" 

"She's pretty! That's all! We don't even know each other!" 

As the talking faded into the background, the paladin stared at the ground, trying and failing to school her flustered panic. Gilgamesh, meanwhile, caught the hint and took over talking with shop clerk.

Phillice's numerous wishful glances only went unnoticed by Jessaria for so long. The blunette sighed tensely. 

"What's the matter?" Gilgamesh asked. "Phillice is crushing on me," the paladin admitted, "and I don't know how to let her down easy."

"Really?" Briardien scoffed, "I'd have thought the realm's single most useless lesbian would respond to such a thing more positively." 

Jessaria only glared at the inspector, "my love life is strictly none of your business, SIR." "Besides," Jessaria returned to talking with Gilgamesh, "she looks up to me. That kind of expectation hurts. I have more than enough on my shoulders already." 

"Bloody brilliant! Aye, I'd take you over my muscle-headed half-wit of a husband any day!")

"W-what!?" Jessaria exclaimed, her cheeks flushing.

Julyan smirked, "Now stand back and let me show you something real Manderville home cookin'!"

a few minutes later...

Jessaria turned to leave, but stopped at Julyan's voice, "And Jessaria?"

The Warrior of Light turned to blond. "I was joking earlier, but after that adorable blush~," Julyan winked, and smirked at the ensuing stammering and blushing.

"Blah-da-I-um-gotta go save Ul'dah!" Jessaria rambled and left, "Sorry!"

Chapter Text

"Nael is the name of a dead man. The true deity has deemed me Eula."

I feel sorry for her, Jessaria thought as she fought, despite all her crimes, Eula finally found a key part of herself, only for it to be twisted in Bahamut's image...

The Warrior of Light screamed as she wreathed her weapon in energy, clashing weapons with the tempered garlean.

"She deserved better than this," Jessaria snarled.

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"The children of Bahamut," Jessaria pondered as she landed upon the platform, "trapped in a prison of thought for millennia... You were trapped with them, yet you would STILL keep them here for your benefit..." 

The Warrior of Light looked up at Bahamut's descending incarnation. "The Allagans are dead and gone!" she roared, "but... when has that ever stopped anyone?" 

"I won't let another Calamity happen!" Jessaria declared as she cast a spell, completely changing her job to something new, "and if death must be your salvation..." 

The light began to fade, revealing Jessaria. She was flying! Her legs pressed together, as the Crystalis crossed her arms beneath her chest, aetherial wings of Garuda materialized on her back.

"Then so be it!" 

And so the fight began.

Even at her most powerful, Jessaria found herself using healing spells time and again. She called upon Ifrit's claws to meet Bahamut's own and deflect projectiles, Garuda's Wings to maneuver and divide beams of flame, and Titan's strength to punch her way THROUGH a star the dreadwyrm had conjured!

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The battle was fierce, even with her Summoner training, Jessaria found she could barely keep up with the Primal.

It had reach the point Odin's horse was upon her, Zantetsuken thrusted to her life.

Jessaria caught the blade with her Book of Spades, and with forceful effort that ultimately broke the grimoire itself, Jessaria tore the blade from her opponent's grip. 

Immediately the weapon tumbled away. Odin attempted to trample over the Warrior of Light, but she swung her leg and tripped his steed.

Jessaria lunged for Zantetsuken. Her hand gripping the handle, she spun to see Odin's sundered upon her again. She let the spin carry her arm, and Zantetsuken slashed through steed and sundered alike. The fight was won.

Still spinning, Jessaria's grip was lost, and she rolled into the dirt.

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The twins and Jessaria couldn't even approach the Pheonix, the winds of its wings pushing them back. Jessaria grimaced, trying to channel her magic without her Magitek Grimoire.

Suddenly, she felt the Purple Light Crystal of Levin sing to her. She had never fought Odin, but he did gift her that crystal..!

In a burst of electricity, the winds parted. The twins looked to her in shock. Even Pheonix had been set back by the surge.

"Leave. My niece. And nephew. ALONE!" 

Jessaria, now floating, crossed her arms, Garuda-Egi hovering just above and behind her. With a wrathful shriek, Pheonix charged at her, only to be held back by Ifrit-Egi. The summon's arms shook as the primal resisted.

Ultimately Pheonix won out, plowing through the egi and causing its disintegration.

Only for an amber fist to meet its face. Titan-Egi followed it up with a second punch, but Pheonix blocked the attack with its wings. With a gust of wind, said wings flared out, knocking the egi back into the aether and forcing Jessaria back onto the platform, where her boots scrapped for footing.

She had ascended beyond Summoner. 

Pheonix roared as the pressure dissipated. The Crystalis heaved for breath as she rebalanced herself.

The battle was only just beginning.

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"The children of Bahamut," Jessaria pondered as she landed upon the platform, "trapped in a prison of thought for millennia... You were trapped with them, yet you would STILL keep them here for your benefit..." 

The Warrior of Light looked up at Bahamut's descending incarnation. "The Allagans are dead and gone!" she roared, "but... when has that ever stopped anyone?" 

"I won't let another Calamity happen!" Jessaria declared as green winds flared around her, "and if death must be your salvation..." 

The light began to fade, revealing Jessaria. The Crystalis crossed her arms and pressed her legs together once more as Garuda-Egi materialized.

"Then so be it!" 

Jessaria quickly found herself using healing spells time and again. She called upon Ifrit's claws to meet Bahamut's own and deflect projectiles, Garuda's Wings to maneuver and divide beams of flame, and Titan's strength to punch her way THROUGH a star the dreadwyrm had conjured!

It wasn't enough.

The megaflare tore through through Titan-Egi and descended upon Jessaria. Her boots scrapped against the crystal platform for purchase, but even Garuda-Egi was being pushed back. 

The aether of Ifrit and Titan-Egi formed a shield in front of the crystalis as Garuda-Egi disintegrated behind her. Yet, the Wind-Egi's aether did not, and Jessaria was pushed back, said aether congealed around her back, and the elemental aether in front collapsed into her.

She roared as wings identical to those of Garuda tore themselves into existence from her back. Megaflare fell, and the arena exploded! 

Bahamut's incarnation watched the resulting cloud of smoke. Suddenly, Jessaria emerged from it, spinning dramatically as Garuda's Wings flared out, an Ifrit Claw and Fist of Crag forming in that same instant, along with legged versions of them both.

Images flashed through Jessaria's mind, images of a woman in basic hyur clothing fighting Darnus with modified gloves and boots. The forearms and calves of each respectively had thin blades of metal embedded in them, the boots were also steel-toed, and her fingers were armored. 

The image shifted to the Battle of Carteneu, where the oddly identical woman was tearing her way through Garlean numbers like a bullet through paper. She suddenly spun around, her leg clashing with an axe, wielded by an awfully generic looking man that WASN'T dressed in Garlean standard. 

Jessaria returned to the present as the Wings of Garuda flared behind. She noticed her newfound weapons. 

"Bahamut," the Pugilist Reborn yelled, "this ends now!" 

The elder primal roared in kind, and the two charged, clashing in an unreal sky.

Eventually Bahamut threw yet ANOTHER star at Jessaria. The warrior of light grimaced as she flew to a piece of crystal debris. She buckled her legs against it, and shot herself at the megaflare. The hyur punched the substantial fireball, and punched again, and again and again and over and over again.

The warrior of light roared as she wailed her way THROUGH the attack. The megaflare exploded as she emerged out the other end and slammed her fist into Bahamut. His scales finally, FINALLY, caved to the attack. 

Jessaria continued wailing on him as one of her leg blades began to glow. "Hrrrragh!" she screamed as she swung said leg, a crescent beam of carving through the elder primal. Watching the incarnation flail against disintegration, she heaved for breath, her weapons evaporating. The wings of Garuda, too, faded into the aether, and the Summoner fell. 

A voice would have been heard, a familiar, echoey one, that of Haedelyn, were Jessaria conscious. The warrior of light was suddenly enveloped in blue light, and disappeared from the false sky.

"...aria!?" "...rough!?" 

Jessaria opened her eyes as she stirred. She was back with Alphinaud and Alisaie. "What..?" she muttered. "You're okay!" Alphinaud said, only barely concealing his surprise. "You did it," Alisaie stuttered. Finally, FINALLY, it was over.

Chapter Text

"These people are scions?" Jessaria asked. "Yes?" Alphinaud confirmed, "were you not aware? You've passed by and fought alongside them several times."

"I..," Jessaria grimaced, "I usually see the Scions as you lot in white, and everyone else is just sorta there." "Then what do you consider yourself?" Alphinaud asked. The warrior of light only shrugged, "honorary member? Intern? I dunno." 

The young elezen pinched his nose. "Okay," he decided, "pop quiz; what region is Limsa Lominsa located in?" "The western mega-island," Jessaria answered. 

"The name," her proclaimed nephew stressed. "La Nosca," the hyur answered. "La Noscea," Alphinaud corrected, "who was the armored man commanding the Ultima Weapon?" "I don't know," the summoner replied. "What are the names of the Scions' inner circle?" her nephew asked.

"Alphinaud, Alisaie, Minfilla, Thancred, Ysh'tola, and..," her voiced trailed off and the hyur seemed to curl inward. "I'm sorry," she whispered, pressing her eyes shut.

"...Close enough," the young elezen groaned. 'She can make an ascian blink first, yet she shies from social failure,' he thought, 'but she wouldn't be auntie if she was all competence...' before realizing what he just thought.

'She can never know.'

Chapter Text

"Fear not," Yugiri said, "my countrymen and I shall tend to the aftermath. You need not waste your talents here." 

"I've still got some business here(and Limsa Lominsa)," Jessaria replied, "after I'm through here I'll meet up with Minfilla."

"I wish you the best of luck," the shinobi nodded, only briefly stopping as she walked past the hyur.

"And speaking of talent, have you considered the art of shinobi? You have the aptitude for it, I believe," Yugiri said.

"I already have so much on my plate," Jessaria laughed nervously. There was no way, ri-

"Ashame," Yugiri shrugged, "I would've enjoyed 'training' you~ Till next time."

As the doman vanished, the summoner's face flushed red and unintelligible syllables poured from her mouth.

Chapter Text

The beam pierced the Summoner's chest almost instantly. She grit her teeth as she tried to keep herself upright.

"Alright then," she grimaced, pooling her magic, "if that's how you want to play i-!?"

Garuda's wings are just begun to materialize behind her when something interrupted the aetherial flow. In her mind's eye, Jessaria saw the crystals drained of power before the magic circle shattered entirely.

"Agh!" she cried as Garuda's Wings disintegrated and her body was torn left and right by the three elements. At last, she collapsed. 

"..wha," she groaned weakly, "what have you done?"

Jessaria tried to conjure Crystalis, but to no avail. Suddenly Carbuncle appeared beside her, and the creature shook its head. 

Even her Tome of Levin was reduced to shreds...

Crystalis wasn't just gone...

Summoner was too...

Chapter Text

"You are not of Ishgard!" a draconic voice roared in the Arcanist's mind as she fought the hordes. At this point she had opted to try and mimic swordsplay with her Magitek Grimoire instead of charging Ruina. Jessaria's lungs burned as she forcefully heaved her body from harm's way

Without Crystalis, without Summoner... without Paladin... 

I... I don't know if I can win this!

"Why would you fight alongside them?" the voice(was it Vishap or Midgarstommr? The Echo was being pushed to its limits just to keep Jessaria capable, let alone comprehend voices!) asked. The arcanist found herself slowing at the thought.

The Scions had a reason, to... to... something about primals?

Words and faces suddenly flashed through her mind. The hecatoncheires, that fake Inquisitor, Bahamut, Iceheart, Midgarstommr...

She may not remember the Scions' reason... but Jessaria knew her ideals.

"I... I care not," she began as she pelted Vishap with Ruins, "for the... for the sins... Of... of..."

A feral snarl formed on her features as Jessaria suddenly ran at the dragon, slashing at scales and casting a combination of Poison and Ruin at the wounds. Carbuncle followed her lead, clawing and biting whenever possible.

"The Sins of the Father are dead and gone!" the midlander screamed, "they are not, and they will NEVER be the Child's to answer!"

"And I won't..," she panted after a spin attack, "w-won't let you-"

Jessaria's words died in her mouth. Somehow, she had gotten back in front of Vishap, and she was at point blank range-!

Pain consumed her mind as the flames shoved their claws through her flesh.

Suddenly the sensation changed, instead of being trampled by a stampede of fire, it felt as if Jessaria was punched in the gut!

Her body slammed against something and everything went black.

When Jessaria regained consciousness, her body was healed but the pain remained. It hurt so much to even.

"I didn't know what you'd want to admit, so I told them you've been run ragged as of late," a masculine voice said. Jessaria opened her eyes to see, judging by the tail, a miq'ote dressed in red and white. Their mainly red garb obscured almost all of their features, and was otherwise almost identical to that of Yugiri's shinobi.

"I..," Jessaria groaned, "thank you, who are..?" 

"Lady Yugiri requested I keep an eye on you," the, presumably, shinobi explained, "you may call me Hanin, He/Him. When you're ready to get up, you've the game of politics to attend." 

The Warrior of Light soon learned the Dragon Assault WAS Successfully dealt with, if only barely, but the thought of her failure, and her past, had her distraught all the same.

I'm now only good for my immunity...'good for' that's all I've ever been: good for nothing or good for something. Detriment or tool. Everything is conditional... Every-

She shuddered as she closed her eyes. It didn't stop the tears from silently falling.

"Jessaria!" Minfilia exclaimed as the Arcanist staggered into the room, bruises and exhaustion clearly still affecting her, "you-!" 

With a pained groan, Jessaria groaned before shutting her eyes and crumbling to the floor.

Chapter Text

"Arcanima," Tataru wept, "like so much else, is beyond me."

As the lalafell ran off, Jessaria felt an immense pain in her chest.

"Just like me," she muttered at the reminder, "and then the Echo happened, and then... I don't know who I am anymore..."

The hyur shuddered, "n-no... Stop making it about yourself! I... I can't help her, not as what I am... But I can be there! I.. i think?"

...

"Would you not agree?" Thubyrgeim asked. "I," Jessaria trailed off. Tataru was certainly good at her job, but she shouldn't have to be...

Chapter Text

"Wait," Tataru's eyes widened, "I know what I can do! That is, if you don't mind accompanying me for a little longer?"

"Y-yeah," Jessaria nodded, "sure." 

"Wonderful!" the lalafell clapped, "then to Costa del Sol we will go! It's a bit of a gamble, but I'm confident it will pay off!"

The Scions' receptionist ran off, and Jessaria turned to follow.

"Jessaria," her name brought her attention. The hyur stopped and faced Thubyrgeim. "Is everything all right?" the taller woman asked, "you seem distressed." "I," Jessaria hesitated, looking away, "it doesn't matter... I'm not that person anymore."

Thubyrgeim hummed, "I don't know who you're talking about, but I have a feeling you're more that person than you think."

The midlander didn't answer as she left, a single sentence repeating in her mind.

'I don't matter.'

Chapter Text

"Haedelyn spoke to me," Minfillia said, "I have to stay behind."

"But-" Jessaria protested. "You have to escape," the antecedent instructed, "you're our hope."

"Me?" the Warrior of Light sputtered, "but I'm just the cannon fodder!" 

Minfilia's expression softened at that, "do you truly think so little of yourself?" 

Footsteps were heard. Brass Blades and Crystal Braves no doubt.

"I'm sorry," the antecedent apologized as she ran into the darkness.

"Dostht thou seekith sanctity hither?" Midgarstommr asked. "No," Jessaria answered, "but what choice do I have?" 

"Delusion," the dragon said, "distrust, despair. Of all else you will find naught." 

"I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas," the hyur scowled. Midgarstommr didn't reply. 

With a shudder, the arcanist pressed her eyes shut before gazing wearily at the gates ahead. 

Moenbryda, Louisoix, Noraxia, Tanadd Gah, Unei, Doga, Edda, the Tempered, so many so-called Heretics, those tragically deluded garlean big shots, Shiroma, Chroma, Ul Namo, and Jessaria couldn't even count who else. 

So many people dead, so much of their blood on her hands... How many? How many more..?

The midlander closed her eyes for a moment before making her choice. Jessaria pulled her hood over her head and turned around.

She was tired.

In the distance, Yugiri watched Jessaria make her way back.

How ironic, that the day I discarded my mask would be the one you donned yours...

Chapter Text

Screw it, I'm abandoning the whole 1.0 amnesia thing for Jessaria. There were no Warriors of Light.

Instead, I want to focus on Jessaria's personal tragedy that I found myself exclaiming near the beginning of Heavensward (I say focus, but just keep continuing to play the game, just with that thing in mind)

Jessaria Withrough, Warrior of Light, Primal-Slayer, Hero of the Realm, yet even as everything is collapsing around her and the Scions make their sacrifice plays FOR her, Jessaria still only sees herself as the Cannon Fodder.

Minfilla: You have to escape! You're our hope!

Jessaria: Me!? But I'm just the cannon fodder!

She's not unique. She's not common. She's nothing.

Chapter Text

1.0: There were no Warriors of Light. It's a legend everyone attributes to the day their memory was blinded. 

Jessaria's backstory: Unknown. She doesn't tend to talk about it. The only reason Jessaria became an Adventurer is because she felt like it was her only option. 

Starting City: Ul'dah, as a Gladiator.

Grand Company: Jessaria refused to align herself with any single Grand Company. Instead if sergeant, Grand Company people refer to Jessaria as the Lady Withrough.

Realm Reborn: She ventures into Sastasha solo,

(that, or she finds herself aided by a faerie)

but in the Deepcroft, Jessaria teams up with either a wildwood Conjurer by the name of Reina Shiroma, OR A-Towa-Cant. Either way, she receives a Summoning Crystal for future Duties.

In Copperbell, Jessaria joins forces with either a duskwright Thaumaturge named Waltez Chroma OR Lalai Lai.

No, I haven't done their Job questlines. I'm using TVtropes.

Chapter Text

During the final battle against Lahabrea-Thancred, when Haedelyn used the Crystals to rejuvenate Jessaria, the three she had claimed from felled primals blessed her will their power. Temporarily wielding Blade of Ifrit, Wall of Crags, and Garuda's power of Flight, she defeated the Ascian. Jessaria would later call this form: Valkyrie.

After the fact, she consulted her La Noscea allies about her newfound power, and they directed her to the Arcanist Guild.

Jessaria only completed her training as a summoner just before the celebration when Nidhogg was heard.

After defeating Ramuh, the Purple Crystal of Levin granted Jessaria some of Ramuh's power, in the form of a grimoire.

During the Coils of Bahamut, Jessaria achieved a new job; the Seeker, where she used Garuda's flight to avoid attacks with her arms crossed, while Ifrit-Egi and Titan-Egi could be summoned at her will.

All this power, however, was revoked when Midgarstommr drained the Crystals.

Chapter Text

Count Edmont de Fortemps nodded, "the hero returns! I cannot thank you enough for saving young Emmanellian's life. Aye, aye, he told me everything."

"Same," Jessaria placed a hand of her hip, "he told me YOU hit him."

"I-...yes," the Count winced, "I've also received letters from both.........."

Watching her benefactor dodge the subject, the midlander narrowed her eyes.

'I'm judging you,' she thought.

Chapter Text

Jessaria suddenly tumbled, holding her chest as a bright light appeared.

"What's happening?" Alphinaud exclaimed, "is it the Echo?" "N-no," the hyur answered, "s-something's different this time..."

With Iceheart, the woman who became Shiva, now an ally, the Light Crystal of Ice was renewed, and it granted Jessaria a fragment of Shiva's power, taking in the form of a new grimoire.

Arcanist? Jessaria Updated Skillset so far:

Ruin-Ruina

Summon Carbuncle

Radiant Aegis

Physick

Aethercharge

Fester

Energy Drain

Outburst

New Abilities

Blizzard-Blizzara

Ice Skating on Any Surface 

Ice Attacks involving Kicking

Chapter Text

"I'll help," Jessaria smiled at the nameless one, "but you deserve a name, regardless of your use." 

"Thank you," they nodded, "but, why?" The hyur's warm expression began to fade as they walked, "you remind me of myself when I was your... height." 

"Hunter was useless once?" the vath clicked. "Still am," the arcanist answered, sorrow painting her features, "in some ways."

"How did hunter ascend?" the nameless one asked. "...I don't know," Jessaria winced, looking at her arm, "the Echo did this to me. It hurts, I don't..."

She suddenly shook her head, "nevermind, we're here to collect arrow parts, not for me to traumadump."

The nameless one relented, not noticing the tears and fists beginning to form.

Where does the Echo end and I begin? I'm mostly free from that life, but every day I prove Them right...

And every day it hurts...

Chapter Text

Summoner Jessaria Regains the Following Abilities 

Summon Titan-Egi 

Stone-Stonega

Technically Quake and Quakega, but as a Summoner Jessaria rarely uses aoes.

Chapter Text

"Estinian," Jessaria snapped, stepping between the two elezen, "quit it." Ysalye only blinked, noticing the warmth in her cheeks.

A month ago we were trying to kill each other...

As the dragoon relented with Alphinaud's more... diplomatic words, the protective anger on Jessaria's face faded, replaced with the usual submissive fatigue she had worn since... since... 

The Scions' arrest? No, before that. It was only after the disaster in Ul'dah that Jessaria had begun obscuring herself beneath a hood.

It then occurred to Ysalye how she had read Jessaria's face, even with her eyes unseen.

Chapter Text

"You lost your powers?" Y'mhitra asked. "Only Carbuncle remains," Jessaria nodded, "the Crystals of the Primals are no more, BUT I have regained Titan-Egi, along with some new power." For emphasis, Jessaria conjurered an Ice Spell.

"Interesting," the Miq'ote pondered, "that's Thaumaturge magic! Until you get the rest of your powers back, let's see what we can do about the Primals you've yet to acquire." 

She ran off before Jessaria could figure a way to bring up that the power she acquired from Ramuh was also gone, so an Egi of him was already off the table.

Chapter Text

Alphinaud sighed.

Alphinaud: I was born the pampered son of a Sharlayan dignitary, and, alongside my twin, became the youngest student ever to be accepted into the Studium. How proud I was to match wits with scholars and philosophers... how ignorant of mine own shortcomings... That hubris invited manipulation and betrayal... and led to the downfall of the Scions.

Ysayle: We all of us are guilty of similar ignorance. How many men lay down their lives, never knowing what it is that they fight for? Never questioning that which they have been taught to believe.

Jessaria sniffed, hugging her legs tightly.

Jessaria: How many lives have we taken, never knowing who they were and why? How many more? 

Ysayle: 'Twas only upon meeting Hraesvelgr that I learned the truth hidden in our history. Were it not for that chance encounter, I would never have vowed to tear down the Holy See and expunge the falsehoods with which it fans the flames of conflict. I would have lived and died in ignorance. That the truth has driven me to do terrible things, I cannot deny, but I would rather sin in the pursuit of peace than imagine myself virtuous for perpetuating a needless war.

Jessaria: But has that quelled the guilt? The blood on our hands? Everyone thinks me a hero, a beacon of hope, but I'm no such thing. I'm just the cannon fodder... drenched in far too much blood... how many have been killed just for being in the way? I don't-...

Alphinaud: If this journey has taught me anything, it is the importance, and difficulty, of holding to one's convictions in the face of failure... of striving always to replace one's ignorance with knowledge.

Chapter Text

"Hmm," Ysayle turned around to see Jessaria hesitated to walk through the initial archway. 

The hyur gazed at the place and sighed, "I have so much blood on my hands, and we're heading into the lion's den. I... your siblings deserve to face me, not some ambiguous shade."

With that, the Summoner lowered her hood. "All this time I've been hiding from everything. It's time I was honest again."

Chapter Text

Estinian: Leave her. Your words will not reach her now. And we have not the time to wait for her to gather up the pieces of her shattered faith.

Jessaria: ...no.

The Summoner looked to Ysayle, "I face what's in front of me. And right now that is someone in pain."

The dragoon grit his teeth, "we don't have time for-"

Jessaria gave him an exhausted look of distain, "even after all of this, you're still so damn callous."

Ysayle: Go.

Jessaria looked back at her: huh?

Ysayle glared at her with tears running down her face. "Go back to your battlefield," the oracle growled, "you said it yourself; that's all you're good for."

The Warrior of Light gasped, "I-..." 

"Jessaria," Alphinaud called out. They looked at each other. "There's nothing you can do here," her proclaimed nephew tried to console.

Jessaria: I... okay.

She gave one final look at the now turned away heretic.

Jessaria: I'm sorry.

Chapter Text

"Ysayle!" Jessaria yelled as the Summoner ran to a stop, "what are you doing!?" 

"Putting an end to this," the elezen replied, "and I'm not Ysayle, nor Shiva... I'm Iceheart."

"Come, Warrior of Light!" the reborn Primal raged, "let only one of us survive this battle!"

Jessaria made sure that the Oracle was alright before leaving.

Chapter Text

"But if Nidhogg lost BOTH eyes way back when," Jessaria pondered, "then who did we just fight!?"

"Nidhogg," Estinian answered, "the Eye's power respond's to that name, and I recognized him instinctively. I don't know how, but it was Nidhogg."

Purple  Light Crystal of Levin Restored! 

Thunder>Thundara>Thundaga Acquired!

Tome of Levin Regained!

Ice Magic Prevalence has been relocated to legs.

Chapter Text

"And say you, Warrior of Light?" Sir Aymeric asked. Jessaria nodded, "that man killed someone I had only begun to see as a brother. I will take his arm, if not his life!"

Chapter Text

Whilst the others yelled and shuddered, Jessaria found herself running forward, gutterally screaming.

"YSAYLE!"

She would have jumped ship, lack of Garuda's flight forgotten, had Cid and Estinian not prised her away from the edge.

Exiting the airship, Jessaria was unresponsive, for Cid and the others to have their conversation without her...

Hauncherfaunt was like a brother to her, and Ysayle...

Crossed magicks and cruel words aside, Ysayle...

Jessaria wasn't afraid to admit she grown to love the "heretic." 

Finally, after so long, she had finally met someone truly like her!

And she was gone...

Grief turned to anger.

"... Emperor Idontgiveadamn," the Summoner whispered, looking to the sky, "when this is over... YOU'LL GET WHAT'S YOURS!"

"Jessa-!?"

She only just shoved her way to the front of the group before the rage boiled away into a numb, fatigued sorrow.

"Jessaria?" Y'shtola asked hesitantly. "...let," the warrior of light replied, "let's just get this over with..."

Chapter Text

"GRRRRRRRRRRHAAAAAAAA!" Jessaria screamed as she tapped into the Crystals' power. Her Carbuncle frantically leaped off her shoulders and vanished as her clothes burned away. In their place new clothes appeared, majestic and draconic. 

Born of the claws of the primals, grown by the Crystals of Light, forged from the flames of Bahamut, and tempered through the rage of Nidhogg.

The hyur began floating.

"Thordan," she swore, the Caller opening her eyes as the clothes finally solidified. She put her hands together, and threw them apart, forging an aetheric catalyst to serve her magic, made of pure energy in place of a grimoire.

"It all ends here."

Final blow idea: Spoilers for Heavensward:

||King Thordan's knights stood little chance against Jessaria in this state, using the egis at her disposal to simultaneously defend and propel herself, and using Dreadwyrm Trance to attack directly. Whenever one of them got too close, she'd either use the aforementioned egi or grab hold of them and call down Ramuh's lightning, using Shiva's ice and Ifrit-Egi's flame to amplify the effect.

In short, she was brutal, but Jessaria always used her aetheric grimoire in one way or another. King Thordan sliced it apart, and appeared to gain the upper hand until the entire immediate area exploded in aetheric light.

She tricked him and used her Aetherpool Grimoire as a grenade!

With Thordan stunned, Jessaria conjured the arms of Ifrit- and Titan-Egi and used them to augment her strength. The Caller prized the Nidhogg blade from Thordan's grip, and did to him what she did to Odin.

"W-what are you?" the archbishop asked as his body began to disperse into aether. Jessaria only stared. Too many people had died, died for her, no less. A darkness was born within her that wouldn't see the light of day for quite some time, but today? It'd have a peak.

"Die wondering, Thordan," Jessaria scowled.

As the ceremony was prepared, Jessaria ventured into the "Heretics"' territory. Upon meeting them, she conjured a Caller's Horn and lifted it from her head. Next, she channeled the Ice Crystals' power to forge a Grimoire, not of Shiva, but of Ysayle. 

She gifted them the elezen's people, and when they asked why?

"I grew to care about Ysayle, deeply," she sighed, "and you are her home. I cannot bring you her body, but I can give you the parts of me she forged."

She'd Return away before they could reply.

Later...

Returning to Ul'dah, the Warrior of Light held her Grimoire, and assist tool of Ironwork make, and placed it down atop a chest. Slowly, she wreathed herself in her paladin armor and handed the Blacksmith's Guild a pair of weapons.

One, a weathered shortsword, and the other a rapier.

Along with those, she gave them materials, including a considerable amount of ice crystals.

It was time for a change.

Chapter Text

I'm trying to plan out when I'm going to become a Red Mage before Stormblood, and Dark Knight before Shadowbringers, but my research says I can't without being spontaneous.

Is there any way I can make those two jobs at those two points in the story make sense geographically?

Chapter Text

"You head on Idylshire, Alph," Jessaria shrugged apologetically, "I've got business up north." 

"Very well," Alphinaud shrugged in turn before departing.

"What is it you-," the Caller tried to ask, but instead found herself yawning. Vidolfnr grumbled humorously at the sight. "Perhaps you need rest first." 

"If you," Jessaria yawned, "say so."

Vidolfnr knew humans typically prefer softer surfaces upon which to sleep. Seeing the Warrior of Light curl up on the stone floor, her back facing the ceiling, was contrary to this.

Then again, she IS an adventurer. Jessaria probably had to adjust to all manner of things.

The dragon too rested, until hearing the mortal shift. 

"Hm?"

Jessaria wasn't awake, but her body was tense, her fists starting to clench. "You?," she mumbled tensely, "but I just-No! Nonononononononononono, what are you doing?"

"No!" the summoner suddenly yelled, alerting the other dragons. "I believe she's having a nightmare," Vidolfnr told them, prodding at the hyur to wake her up.

"No, why are you here? He's a primal, run!" 

No effect.

"No," the Caller's voice became desperate, "nonononono please, not them! Not again! No! I-"

Tears were streaming down her face at this point, and Vidolfnr could only watch, "you... you tempered them... There was no nee-no... no! Let them go! I've seen it happen before! I know you can-! No, wait, stop! Fight it, please! No one dies, not for me! Not again! Please!"

At this point, Jessaria was tossing and turning, primal energies crackling around her body. "No...," she sobbed, "not again... Never again!" 

The mortal's sorrowful cries began turning to murderous grief. "Thordan!" she cried ragefully, her voice briefly deepening as purple light flashed around her. Wait, was that-

"The face stealer?" Vidolfnr internally gasped. But but he vanished at the Battle of Carten-

"Thordan you bastard! I'll-" Jessaria's words devolved into rageful and sobbing nonsense, heat pulsating from her body with orange light adding to the purple. "Too many have died Thordan!" Jessaria screamed, "And you'll be the last!"

Oh no. Ohnonononononononono, the dragons knew what this was. Non-violent prods weren't going to cut it.

Vidolfnr plunged her claws into the mortal's mind, interrupting the spell.

"JESSARIA, WAKE UP!"

With a forceful slam of her wings, the dragon sent Jessaria flying in the wall. The stonework immediately caved as the hyur collapsed, eyes finally opened.

A few seconds passed as the Warrior's body slowly tensed again, squeezing together as if to appear smaller. Her eyes were wide open, her breath heaving rapidly, tears now only trickling, but a few more seconds passed and she hadn't uttered a word.

"... Jessaria?" Vidolfnr gently prodded the mortal's mind. The Caller gasped, her eyes darting in the dragon's direction. "V-Vid," she stumbled over her words, "Vidolfnr..? I-is that...?" 

"I am here," the dragon confirmed, suddenly stumbling back from an unseen force. Jessaria had seemingly vanished. Sobbing suddenly drew the dragon to look down, where she saw the Warrior of Light clinging to her. "Y-you're okay," the mortal rambled in disbelief, "y-you're..." 

The hyur suddenly slumped, passing out.

The next morning, Vidolfnr already saw Jessaria standing ahead of her, ready for the journey ahead. "You ready?" the summoner asked. "Of course," Vidolfnr nodded, "but are you alright? You were incredibly distressed." 

"I-" the mortal's voice strained, "I-I'm sorry you had to see that, I'm sorry that you had to damage your home to stop me. I'm..."

The hero shuddered, pressing her eyes shut, "thank the Goddess you're okay. Everyone's okay. It was... just a nightmare. Everyone okay..."

Jessaria hoped Vidolfnr had missed the implied "left's" in that last sentence. The dragon didn't.

"We should get moving!" the hero suddenly decided before Vidolfnr could press further. The dragon internally sighed.

Looks like my nest needs to be a bit bigger...

New title gained: Traumaspawn. Only appears in Dravanian territory.

Chapter Text

As Jessaria stepped through the dimensional rift, she found herself yelling in pain. An out of body experience, she saw herself collapse to the arena floor. She saw her likeness replaced by another, and another!

A fairly generic man, equipped in the gear of a Dragoon. A woman wielding a collosal, yet oddly familiar blade.

A lalafell.

A miq'ote.

A duel-wielding viera dressed in yellow.

Y'shtola?

Hildibrand!?

She-she knew their names, better than her own. Meteor Goode, Everill Goode, Juniper Vulpes, Volto, Soldier, Shantotto, Prishe.

And somehow, they were all Her! And she was none of them.

She didn't understand. There was... Something, that they all shared from before birth, and yet entirely unique to herself.

Whatever this was, THAT is what made her the Warrior of Light. If it had ended up in any of those others... They would be standing here, not her...

As the Summoner regained her footing, she saw transparent wisps of all those Others around her. They were going to help her fight. 

Why here? Why n- Why was she asking? This had happened before, hadn't it? From her very first dungeon, very first primal, they were there, weren't they? No, she remembers differently? Does she?

"N...no time," Jessaria grumbled as her mind finally emerged from the ocean of chaos. Those visions were both gone again And standing alongside her. They always had and never were.

It all faded into white noise as she gazed upon her materializing foe.

An endlessly repeating contradiction in her life was born here, and she could only acknowledge it within this single moment.

Left. 

The Caller dodged an approaching laser. No. She couldn't.

She had to survive first.

Chapter Text

"That's not funny, Cyr," Jessaria crossed her arms, "I've seen the atrocities the Allagans committed first hand. Say what you will about their people, their civilians, but the ones that got things done? There is no redemption in them."

Chapter Text

"Ysh'tola!" Jessaria exclaimed as the Scion was sent flying. She couldn't even make a move before the three of them with blasted by a stealth flare. The Warrior of Light was on her feet immediately.

Garuda.

Garuda-Egi materialized behind Jessaria. Its brought them to the center of the affair, where the Caller spun and threw Garuda's Flight open.

"Enough!"

The air around her exploded in that instant, knocking the attackers away. The Paladin and Bard moved to attack. Jessaria scoffed, folding her arms as Ifrit- and Titan-Egi materialized before them.

Ifrit-Egi incinerated the miq'ote's arrows. It rushed forward, clawing at her arms as it reached  for her bow.

Titan-Egi slammed the roegadyn into the ground with a powerful undercut. The paladin's jaw was next, sent away as the earth itself began to close in around him.

A stealth blizzard erupted between Ifrit-Egi and the Miq'ote, shielding her from the assault. Ifrit-Egi tried to twist itself upright in the air, but the Black Mage only smirked as he cast Ifrit's flames apart.

The White Mage responded similarly to Titan-Egi.

Jessaria could only hiss as she dodged and axe swing, resummoning the two Egis to deal with the Warrior. They were both dealt with, but not before Jessaria to use them to hide an attack of her own.

Fester!

The hyur tanked the blast, and Jessaria found herself only just dodging his attacks.

The stancer's eyes held a purple flame.

Dread-

Too slow. Too late. The Warrior's axe tore into her as his allies rejoined the fight. Outnumbered, Jessaria was defeated. The Warrior raised his axe for the killing blow. Y'shtola tried to raise her staff.

And only then did the knives fall.

Chapter Text

"Vivi, I get it!" Jessaria exclaimed, taking a step forward, "I get it that hurts, knowing someone you care about is gone, and it never stops hurting, no matter how many you see die, again, and again, and again and again and..."

The group found themselves giving the summoner concerned looks. Her fists were clenched.

"...I couldn't save Ysayle," Jessaria began, looking back up, "I couldn't heal Hauncherfaunt, I couldn't stop Livia, I couldn't save any of them, but we have to let them rest. Everything has its time..."

She scowled at the three restored youths, "everything dies."

"Except us," the leader replied.

"Wrong." 

Energy crackled around the summoner as a ethereal dragon briefly appeared behind her. The dragon faded, but its wings did not.

"You wanted to slay a dragon, right?" the Dread Jessaria threatened, "then here I am. Face me as the Final Witness!" 

Imaged flashed through the trio's minds. Primals, Ascians, Voidsent and Dragons... and Bahamut himself. All fell to Her.

They didn't last long, but Jessaria was still injured from fighting the Warriors of Darkness. The columns above still fell.

Chapter Text

Upon receiving the Shield of Fortemps, Jessaria chooses to return to sword and shield. Even as Caller, she couldn't defeat the Warriors of Darkness. She'll have to fight with all of her, going forward.

Chapter Text

"What of your husbands and wives? They the dragons killed with tooth and claw, with no mercy!"

"What about their kin!?" Jessaria yelled back, "those that all of us warriors have slain!? The dragons I'VE slain!? You're angry, I know, and that anger NEVER goes away, but there's rage and revenge on both sides! Nothing will change unless the cycle is broken! It'd just be generations of human and dragon alike slaughtering each other! Siblings, spouses, and children! You'd condemn your own to bloodshed!"

Jessaria grimaced as the magenta haired woman ignored her, continuing her rant, making it sound like revolution.

"You call this revolution!?" the paladin yelled, "if it just the elite maybe I'd listen to you, but your rage against the dragons is what drives you! This isn't revolution, it's conquest!"

Chapter Text

First chance she got, Jessaria returned to her dwellings and collapsed in her bed with a pained cry.

"This was never your fight." 

"This became my fight when Hauncherfaunt and Amyric dragged me into quid pro quo," the warrior of light cried. Honorary siblings or not, there was a small part of her that resented them for it.

So much blood on her hands... So much more yet to come...

Her mind returned to the magenta haired hyur, cursing her.

You'd use your rage to justify genocide, she thought.

But how many had fallen by her hand for that same reason?

She was so tired, of fighting, of killing, of going every which way just to progress... 

She couldn't stay still, she was the only one durable enough to get things done, but she couldn't move either.

It pained her to realize; Jessaria didn't want to be her anymore, not when the atrocities never stop...

She thought her journey had taught her to embrace her rage. 

But just as before, it'd always turn against her in the end. 

She only continued to weep, ignoring the knocking on her door.

She fell asleep before the door could open, dreaming of a shard filled with her same pain, and the breaking of a soul stone.

When she'd wake, she'd hear a voice in the back of her mind.

Enough is enough.

"Yeah, right," she grumbled sorrowfully. The darkness was stuffing her throat, drowning her.

Since when was she ever enough? There was no choice to be made. Jessaria had to continue down this path. 

Even when it kills her.

What she didn't know was who knocked on the door earlier. It was Count Fortemps, and he had heard what she had said herself as she fell asleep.

"I don't want to be me anymore..."

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Jessaria couldn't care less about Nidhogg's speech. Everything faded away as she ran to the grey dragon's side.

"Nononononononononononono," the paladin cried, "Vidofnr, please, speak to me!"

No response. A white haired woman said something, but it was muddled and unheard.

Tears streamed down Jessaria's face, "please, look at me, do SOMETHING! I can't lose anyone else!"

Your debt is paid. a wrathful voice suddenly rang in her mind. 

"Eye of Nidhogg, rage of centuries, we have our differences, but we both rage against the injustices of the land. Let our rage unite, and destroy those who'd only profit from the heartache!" 

Her own words repeated in her mind as she looked up at Estinian.

From that point for hours, the Warrior of Light was completely unresponsive, only silently shedding with open eyes.

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"I think I may know how to save Estinian," Jessaria told her nephew, "assuming we face Nidhogg in human form; his eyes on Estinian's armor. We break those, we break Nidhogg."

"...thank you, Auntie," Alphinaud replied. The paladin's eyes widened. She had come to see and even refer to the twins as her niblings, but seeing Alph of all people accept it..!

"But how do you know he'll allow that?" the arcanist asked. "Fight him somewhere enclosed," Jessaria shrugged, "or we somehow goad him into it."

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Speak thou mind, Midgarstommr told the Warrior of Light as she sat atop Hraesvelgr, Do no let they grudge distract you.

I hast offended you? the feathered dragon asked, overhearing his ancestor's words.

"It doesn't matter right now," Jessaria shook her head, "what you did was an act of ignorance, not malice. It shouldn't bother me."

Thou loved Ysayle, hath thou, Hraesvelgr implored. It was not a question. "I don't know," the paladin closed her eyes forcefully, "she was... Indescribable. I shouldn't blame you for letting her fly into battle."

But..? Midgarstommr pushed. "You're not helping," the hyur suddenly spat, "but you know what? Fine. Ysayle was defeated by that Garlean ship, but you, Hraesvelgr, you let her fall!" 

Didst thou not sense her aether? the white dragon asked, she was already dying.

"You could've tried!" Jessaria yelled, before quieting, "I tried. It took the whole crew to stop me. You could've at least tried to catch her, but you didn't... And now she doesn't even have a body to bury, no place of rest and memorium. Ysayle's gone, and nobody even tried to save her."

A minute of silence passed between the three.

...there is no atoning for the death of the loved, Hraesvelgr sighed. "There's nothing to atone for," Jessaria sniffed, "complacency isn't a crime. If it were, I'd have burned this realm down myself."

It wasn't the dragon she was trying to convince.

I cannot mend your wound, Hraesvelgr continued, but it was by my grudge that these events began. It is unjust for the power that started this to remain with me.

Hraesvelgr's left eye began to glow.

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Adding Hraesvelgr's power to the well, the paladin raised her bladez currently imbued with the Dreadwyrm's Trance. She channeled everything she had, summons, dreadwyrm, Hraesvelgr, the Crystals of Light.

Their influence neutralized and amplied each other in equal measure, the glamour of the Dreadwyrm's Blade, and even the Cobalt Winglet dispelling as something else rose to the top.

The blade had taken a new form, similar to the Shire Sword, but somehow, something else altogether.

Jessaria grimaced as she tugged at the eye of Nidhogg, only to pause at a pair of gloved hands.

"Hauncherfaunt?" she gasped in disbelief, only to suddenly feel someone else's eyes on her. She knew who.

"Y-ysayle?" the hyur asked, meeting the elezen's eyes. She nodded and spoke, "Hurry."

They succeeded and the two ghosts vanished.

"The eyes!" Aymeric called out, "cast them into the abyss!"

"B-bu," Jessaria looked around in confusion, only for Alphinaud to insist, "come on!"

Shaken from her confusionworryhopesorrow, Jessaria obeyed.

Aymeric and Alphinaud returned to the city, but Jessaria hesitated, looking to the sky. Hraesvelgr had left without his eye, but those two...

A pair of voices softly spoke to her.

We're with you, sister.

I'd have loved to find out. 

Thr paladin pressed her eyes shut, sobbing, before eventually composing herself.

"Thank you, brother," Jessaria spoke to Hauncherfaunt, her voice heavy with grief, "and I would've loved to as well, Ysayle..."

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Jessaria gave her usual answer to joining people to other places.

"You go on ahead, I'll catch up." And a break from that nobleman asshole.

"Understood, you must be very busy," Francel nodded, only to get a devastated and exhausted look from Jessaria.

"You have no i-"

"Excuse me?" the snooty ass interrupted, "whatever business you have here, it'll have to wait. What we're doing is more important."

"That's not up to you to decide," Jessaria replied, "I prioritize what's in front of me, and right now, what's in front of me is Gridania."

"Don't waste your time on these commoners," househead whatever scoffed. "These 'commoners' are people I care about," the hyur quipped. 

She doesn't recognize most of them, but she's a bleeding heart all the same, but He doesn't need to know that.

"Do you know who I am?" Lord whatchamacallit demanded. "Absolutely no idea," the paladin shrugged, "but I think you're also forgetting who you're talking to."

"I am Jessaria Withrough," she scowled, lowering her head. Mister tall might be taller than her, but that just means his throat is all the easier to reach for. "I am not one of your yesmen, and I do not like being pushed around. Who am I? Do you want to find out?"

"I-if I may," Francel moved between the two of them, "although for different reasons, I'm inclined to agree Lord Charlemend. If you always search every region for people to aid before moving to the next, you'll burn yourself out."

"Who says I haven't already?" Jessaria scoffed, only to wince at her own aggression, "France, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you." "Th-thank you," the elezen in green stuttered, taken aback, "b-but my point still stands."

Jessaria pinched her nose and sighed, backing off, "look, I've already considered that. I don't know how to explain it, but I just Can't. I'd burn myself out even faster if I kept teleporting from one city to another just for an errand, and as for when I burn out again?" 

She turned, "either some tragedy will happen to reignite that fire, like it always does, or I'll burn that bridge when I cross it."

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Jessaria was woman enough to admit Count Whatshisface had earned a little bit of respect from her. Going somewhere that only ever hurt you, prejudices aside, is impressive.

Didn't make him any less though.

"I take it we're to go on ahead without you?" Francel asked. Jessaria nodded, "I promised Momodi, despite her being an ignorant heteronormie, that I'd catch up with her whenever I passed by."

As the two left, Jessaria turned her attention to the lalafell. She could use a drink.

"Let me know if you could use a sympathetic ear," Momodi said as Jessaria paid for her drink. "Momodi," the paladin said, "you have no idea."

Stepping out of the Sands, Jessaria was ready to meet up with Francel. Nothing particularly new had happened, according to the lalafell, so she didn't have much reason to stick aro-

Suddenly Jessaria felt a force in her head yank her in the direction of the Sapphire Exchange. A familiar feeling...

Just how versatile is my Echo!?

"..Accept those terms, and I will bestow upon you the accoutrements of a red mage."

"Okay," the paladin nodded, "I've been a swordfighter since... forever, and have used Primal and Crystal Magic in the past, but in a recent fight, it wasn't enough. If I'm going to continue this, I need a way to fight as All of me, not just Paladin or Summoner. Maybe Red Mage is the path I'm looking for."

"You will not regret this decision, my friend!" X'rhun Tia grinned.

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A teacher, huh... At least Arya isn't a hyperactive kid.

"Come on, Arya," Jessaria gestured northwest. "Where are we heading?" the shorter woman asked.

"What was it called..?" Jessaria pressed her eyes shut to focus. When that failed, she looked at her map, "Novv's Nursery. We can start there."

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"Well I can sing I gu-wait, you want me to join?" Jessaria asked, taken aback. "Of course," Artoirel nodded, "this is just as much your celebration as it is Francel's. After the initial performance, I'll even have a bard lend you musical aid for lyrics of your own."

"I-" Jessaria gaped, a smile forming, "I really don't know what to say. I- thank you! I won't let you down!"

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They're still here, Jessaria thought as she stepped to the bouquet, just as we left them...

a thousand thousand fires blossomed around her as she fell towards the battle, a crimson starshower midst the impassive clouds.

then came the azure light, faint at first, soon blinding, then scattering, casting motes of diamond to the four winds...

How long has it been? Weeks? Months? Did it matter? Jessaria's mind went back to that basement in Coertheas. 

I thought I was moving on, but just being there hurt, and here too.. 

The Red Mage pointed her Hailstorm Rapier to the sky.

For those we've lost...

"...goodbye, Ysayle."

Until next time...

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"-we will not forsake your gift," the man said. "Courage?" Jessaria replied, "is that what you think of me?" She smiled, looking at her hand, "I've been called many things. Fearless, stoic, invincible, but rarely courageous. Your words mean more than you know."

The man nodded, turning to leave. "And Griffith?" the Red Mage called. It took the masked man a second to realize she was talking to him. He turned back to face her.

"If I'm ever nearby again," she offered, "look me up. Say what you will of the Alliance, but I'll do what I can."

The revolutionary considered it, "I take it you have other business in the time being?" Jessaria nodded with a shrug, "that hasn't stopped anyone before, but beware the Ascians. I don't trust people who think they can play both sides." 

Her voice gained a sharp edge at the end, the threat obvious.

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"You're a Red Mage now?" Alisaie approached Jessaria. The midlander nodded, "'ve been trying to fight as All of me. X'rhun mentioned you, but I don't see a sword on your person?" 

Her niece sighed, "I lost it when I got poisoned. I'm working on an alternative however." 

"Now you're getting it," Jessaria whispered to herself, smiling at Alphinaud's new direction for the Scions.

"And what of you?" her nephew asked her, "what's next for the warrior of light?" The smile vanished as she pondered her answer. She was still tired, but the words said during that final confrontation with the Warriors of Darkness felt like they lifted a weight from her shoulders. 

But, honestly, what else could she do?

"I'll continue on," the red mage answered, "as I always have."

"Hey Alph?" Jessaria called as the meeting concluded. "Yes, Jessaria?" he asked as he faced. She placed a hand on his shoulder, "you've learned and realized something gods and kings have failed to grasp, and I'm not just talking about the ones I've felled. I'm proud of you."

The Arcanist's eyes widened, "th-thank you, Aun-Jessaria!" 

Realizing what he almost just said, Alphinaud quickly left, leaving Jessaria reeling at how he almost called her Auntie. She considered herself as such, but the boy was always too indignified at the notion.

She really was an Aunt now, wasn't she?

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"I'm coming with you," Jessaria replied. "Absolutely not," Lyse shook her head, "she stayed behind so that you could escape. Even I know that." 

"That's my niece you're talking about," the Red Mage scowled. "And this is my fight!" the monk yelled.

Jessaria's features softened. "I was the one who dragged you all into this," Lyse looked down, "it was my fight, not yours, but I knew I couldn't do it on my own. I've asked too much and let too much happen to you all. I have to make this right, and I have to do it on my own. So let me go, please. I'm asking you as a friend. I have to help her!"

"I..," Jessaria frowned in thought, "n-" no, Lyse. It was never just about you. It's about everyone suffering under the Empire's rule. If I could've helped the people here sooner, believe me, I WOULD.

"You can start by finding me a towel and some bandages. Brrr..."

The argument was forgotten as the two recognized that voice.

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"If this is how he reacts to the slightest struggle, I'm afraid we'll find not much use for him."

"Not much use?" Jessaria repeated, her eye twitching. She had delayed her group's departure to help the village prepare for their absence, and she thought she could help Kurobana with his familiar problems.

Not much use.

"You-" Jessaria raised her voice-

Not much use. Not enough.

Only to press her eyes shut and look away.

Not much use. Useless. 

"Miss?" Hachiboki asked with a backstep, "I-I didn't mean to offend-"

"You have NO idea," the red mage choked at him. She turned away, "I'll go deliver your report, but I can't help Kurobana like this. If anything happens to the kid, you and your village will have to consider your part in it."

"Ah, Jessaria," Fukodo noticed her approach, "I just caught Kurobana trying to abandon his duties. It seems he was able to to carry one sack of rice, but shirked from-"

"I'm aware," the traveller interrupted harshly, subconsciously stepping between the two.

Not enough.

"Admittedly, he is not wrong to think it grueling work. I too struggled to carry even my first load of rice," the elder tilted his head to face the lupin, "however, if you continue like this, the whole village will think you a weak-willed coward!"

Coward. Not enough. Never enough. Coward.

"I am sorry, Fukodo," the lupin apologized calmly, "you have my word I will not give up like this ag-"

"And what's wrong with that!?" Jessaria snapped, "not everyone is durable enough to 'improve!' Not everyone can meet the standards! Not everyone can be useful! Not ev-"

She collapsed, only now noticing her tears.

"Not everyone can be worthwhile."

Not much use. Coward. Not enough. Never enough. Useless. Not much use. Coward. Not enough. Never enough. Useless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless.

"Yweh!" Outsight nuzzled his rider.

Both villagers were too stunned to react. "I-" Fukudo stumbled, "I'm aware, Ms.Withrough. Perhaps next time we should have Kurobana try a job that does not require great strength." 

You don't get it. 

"...fine," Jessaria tried to regain her composure. She wasn't that girl anymore. She never can be again. It- It's fine. "But keep me out of it," the red mage continued, "I'm only in this to keep Kurobana alive, got it?"

"...yes," the elder nodded, "but wh-"

"Then think on your next idea," Jessaria scoffed as she walked away to attend another task, "think long and hard."

Kurobana raced to her side, "I don't appreciate you underestimating me." Jessaria sighed, "you're right, I'm sorry. This about you, not me."

Funny how it takes a single word to tear open a stapled wound.

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"A singular radiance, shimmering like a jewel of the Dusk Mother," Temulun said. "Haedelyn," Jessaria mumbled. 

"Stars flicker and flock to you. Before such gathered light, even the secrets of the gods may be laid bare," the elder continued.

"Some are fated to rise in grace and glory. Others to falter and fade, though not from memory. Both will be your strength and salvation come the end."

The Red Mage turned to her group outside. "People I care about are going to die," she wilted, "again."

"Cherish the stars and the light they bring you in the dark," Temulun nodded, "for you are a traveller, are you not?"

"I suppose?" Jessaria raised an eyebrow. Why that word to emphasize. Why did it strike a chord?

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"...against the Empire," Lord Hien explained to the elder. "Well that's callous," Jessaria muttered, only to be elbowed by Lyse.

By the time she fought King Thordan, Jessaria didn't know she even had an ego to be humbled. The Warriors of Darkness corrected that.

Then came Zenos, blueblood of an empire that sought out the powers of the Allag. Powers she herself outlasted.

Twice she had fought him, and twice she had fallen short. 

Three brushes with certain death, two with the same foe.

Jessaria's confidence had wavered, and instead of being held back by her allies in times discretion wasn't her priority, now she stood back of her own accord.

She didn't think that insistence would return anytime soon.

Then Magnai said "the women." 

The Xael leader looked at the quartet expectantly of their submission. 

"Yeah, no," Jessaria stepped forward, declining the man his 'offer.' She raised her Shire Rapier in its staff form, channeling hastened magic.

And slammed the blade into the floor, engulfing the room in red as transparent crystals materialized, hitting each and every one of the guards.

The spell ended as quickly as it began, each opponent downed. All except Magnei, whose crystal stopped just short of his throat, by design.

The adventurer lowered her hat and swung her rapier, dismissing the now shattering and dematerializing crystals.

She would look up at him, glaring darkly.

"So, you were threatening u-"

"Don't." a familiar voice rang within the midlander's mind. Midgarstormmr, she thought back as the quartet glanced at each other, still?

"I said I would lend you my aid. That includes my advice, AND my restraint. This is an enclosed space. You may be able to fight in as such, but can your friends?"

Jessaria glanced at the team, her right hand itching for her weapon's handle. She eyed Magnei. Zenos for more dangerous than King Thordan, than Nidhogg. She didn't know what Magnai was capable of. If he was like Zenos, he who had wiped even combined efforts...

Her hand clenched into a fist and relented.

Fine.

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"Thank you," Gotsetsu cried, "for pitying this old fool."

Jessaria shook her head, "we've all our mistakes, our failings..." The two samurai looked at her. She sighed.

"When I first set foot in Coertheas," the Red Mage explained, "I sought out an airship with which I may challenge Garuda. To do so, I had to sell my blade to Ishgard, killing 'heretics' and dragons for a cause I knew not."

You really shouldn't get drunk on the eve battle, her responsibility pushed. Jessaria glanced at the two men and took a sip.

Bleh. Why did I think that was a good idea again?

"After the Bloody Banquet," Jessaria sighed, "my service to Ishgard granted me sanctuary, but still I was made to fight. Even as I saw the conviction in the followers of Ice Heart and the pain of dragons I killed as the Holy See demanded."

She laughed softly, "I even- I think I fell in love. A man I had come to know as a brother laid down his life for me, and Ysayle, she... She was special, maybe the only one I had ever met like me. I couldn't save her. I couldn't save either of them."

"Together we learned the truth of the Dragonsong war," the midlander said, "and together we defended both dragon and heretic, but that never washed the blood from my hands..."

Tears began to fall, "how many more must die in this web of hidden truths and deceit? How much more blood must fall to me?"

"Now, now, it is far too soon for that," Hien interceded, "save your tears for the morrow."

Jessaria had so much more she wanted to say.

I could never demand the Xaela die for us, but I couldn't even ask before you stepped in! Sacrificing the living for that they know naught, what kind of callous bastard could do that with a smile on his face!?

She said none of it