Chihaya is tired—the Warrior of Light can hardly ever get a peaceful moment to rest when the fate of Eorzea weighs so heavily on her shoulders.Tonight, she finds herself under the starry blanket of Dravania, the cool wind making her shiver some. Perhaps it's a moment of respite, the calm before the storm. Alphinaud snores peacefully next to her and she smiles softly. The boy has gone through much in the past few weeks, though so has she.She wipes a few stray hairs from his face carefully, shimmies her coat up, and looks down on him. During the day, he's an impassioned leader. He longs for an everlasting peace in Eorzea, as all good Scions do. Chihaya is no exception. Still, when his chest rises, his breath ever so soft, and his mind lulled to sleep, that charismatic noble melts away to nothing more than a young boy."You should rest," somebody grumbles. "I shall keep watch. I need naught for sleep." It's Estinien. Even now, he still has his helmet on. She's caught glimpses of his nose once or twice, strangely enough, but she could never get a good look at his eyes. "You needn't worry about stray Dravanians ravaging our camp, if that is what ails you, Chihaya."She scoffs. "I assure you that the last thing on my mind is dragons raising our poor excuse for shelter. Not when we have you, at least." Knees pressed to her chest, she gazes absently into the fire."Then what plagues you?""You care for me enough to speak my mind?" Chihaya gives him a look and he shrugs."You do me an injustice, milady. Need I remind you of our time in Coerthas?"She rolls her eyes. "The memory of me beating you hard enough to leap off a cliff is forever burned into my mind. I think of it when I need to laugh."Estinien clicks his tongue in response but she can't see the smile hidden under the shadow of his helm. "How much joy it brings me that you speak so little during the daytime.""Only with you, my fellow dragoon." They both sit in silence until she sighs. "What will you do after slaying Nidhogg?""Thou wouldst ask me questions when you have not answered mine?""Then think nothing of it if thou shalt not answer." They always do this–bickering, seeing who will bend first. Alphinaud is always there to stop them before it can ever reach that point.He ponders her question. For many years Estinien sought vengeance with the wyrm that slew his village, and subsequently his family. "The answer eludes me. What do you propose I should do?"Eyebrows furrowed, she looks directly at him. "That should be something for you to decide." The air is still. "If I were you, I would do my best to prevent beings like Nidhogg the luxury of terrorizing lands.""Such a noble answer. Here I was thinking of hanging up my helm and becoming a chocobo farmer." He laughs at his own joke."How you amuse me so." Though she loathes to admit it, Chihaya finds comfort in Estinien's companionship. The sight of him after all that had occurred in Ul'dah was the last thing she'd expected.—"You!?" Chihaya pointed at the man clad in black armor. The boy next to her frowned and placed a hand on her shoulder."Do you know this man…?" Alphinaud asked."We meet again, fellow dragoon," was all that Estinien had to say. Aymeric looked on at his friend in exasperation."I…! You…! But didn't you…?" She was at a loss for words, something far from unusual from a person that spoke so little already."Think not of it."—She can scarcely believe that she ventures alongside Estinien. Does Ser Alberic know that he still breathes? Chihaya doesn't want to pry."And what shall you do, when all is said and done?" His question breaks her free from her thoughts.Find her friends. Reclaim the Rising Stones. Restore the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. There's much to be done as the Warrior of Light. "Whatever comes next, I suppose." She shrugs."Hm." He doesn't press her for more. Weariness begins to set in on her body, but the chill air does little to comfort her. She shivers but she doesn't want to take her coat back from Alphinaud. Her eyes are so transfixed on the flames threatening to lick at her face that she almost doesn't notice something else besides the cold wrapping around her body.She looks up to see Estinien towering over her. A blanket made of bear hide, she assumes. She tilts her head. "Rest now, for the roads ahead are steep. We have no need for the Warrior of Light to trouble us by fainting during our trek towards Anyx Trine." Chihaya hardly had the energy to protest. A large yawn wracks her body and she wraps the hide closer."Thank you. Wake me up when I must watch next," is all that she mutters before lying down besides Alphinaud. Morning comes by without any troubles.

It's not obvious, but Chihaya Kawanami is a sentimental person. She has a bag of pebbles from all her travels somewhere deep inside her bag, pressed leaves and fauna pasted into a journal that she writes in sometimes, and other knick knacks she keeps around. Something to remember her by, she reasons. When she looks back at her things, painful memories will come up but even those experiences are still precious to her.Ser Aymeric de Borel humors her. "Bring me something whenever you come to Ishgard," she says. "I promise to cherish everything you give me." Chihaya took it to heart, perhaps a little too seriously, and now she has a growing rock collection on her office table from her beloved. Visitors give Aymeric strange looks for it whenever they find it, but she pays them no mind. No one has the gall to question the Lord of Ishgard her army of smooth pebbles.Oftentimes, her gifts are delivered by mooglemail. It's understandable. With both of their duties, they hardly have the time to see each other. Chihaya is hard to pin down because of her constant travels, and Aymeric is too busy juggling the needs of both the noblemen and the people.However, this month seems to be a rare exception. The activities of the Scions have come to a lull that the others pushed for Chihaya to take a much needed break."No ifs, ands, or buts," Y'shtola nagged."We can finally try those pastries that Alisae spoke about!" Lyse cheered."You, my friend, look like you are about to keel over," Alphinaud pointed out.And so with a heavy sigh, Chihaya was free to do whatever she wanted for a month. She thought of training the entire time to keep her occupied, but Thancred heard of her plans and booked her a ticket to Ishgard. "I am sure Ser Aymeric would be happy to entertain you for the month, O Warrior o' Light!" He pushed her onto the first flight to the snowy nation.So she stands at the aetheryte plaza at Foundation. Right, she thinks, and quickly scans her map. House de Borel should be over yonder after taking a left and going straight down.There's a butler standing around the gate, and he immediately lights up seeing Chihaya. "Oh, we were not informed that you would be visiting! My lord just so happens to be at home. Allow me to escort you insi–""There's, u-uhm, no need for that…" She puts a hand out and gives him an awkward smile. "It's a…surprise visit. If your master is busy then tell her I said hello, and give her this for me." Chihaya pulls out a small satchel and a letter. "I shall be off–"Before she can turn tail and leave from embarrassment, the butler grabs her wrist. "Please stay!" There's a hint of desperation in his voice and then he gasps. He drops her arm and immediately bows his head over and over. Perhaps the lad was hired just recently? "Pray forgive me for my impudence, Madam Kawanami!""O-oh, please, there is naught to fret over, ser." She tries to reassure the butler. "I wouldn't want to keep Aymeric from her work…"He shakes his head. "No! I can promise that she would not be angry at you visiting. She has been relieved from her duties for today, so please, come inside."Chihaya finally relents. "Then there's no more need to argue…" With that, he opens the door for her. The Warrior of Light, god slayer, and liberator of nations—these titles mean little to Chihaya and yet she feels almost ashamed for being too embarrassed to visit her lover. They step inside and he takes her coat, leaving it on a hanger."Please have a seat and I shall bring refreshments right away! Do you have any requests, madam?""Nay, I shall have whatever has been made already." The young butler smiles in relief when she doesn't refuse his offer. Chihaya didn't want to cause him any more grief than he's already had today. Besides, she's not particular about her food anyway. So she sits on the plush couch of de Borel manor, waiting for what small sandwiches and teas he may make, when she picks up the sound of light footsteps approaching the foyer.“Does there happen to be any more coffee, Arnold? It appears this report is putting quite the toll on me,” says an all too familiar voice. Oh gods, Chihaya feels like she’s going to be ill. She’s about ready to slip out of the door and never be seen again. Maybe if she’s really quiet and stops breathing, Aymeric won’t notice her. She shuts her eyes and hopes that her body will melt into the couch.A gasp, and then the feeling of someone sitting right next to her. “By the Fury, is it really you!?” Someone’s shaking her shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug. “How glad to see you hale and whole after your travels, Chihaya.”She buries her face into Aymeric’s chest and hugs her back. “Same to you, though I reckon that sitting around and speaking with stuffy nobles has different dangers all on its own…” She pushes them apart, but she still can’t seem to muster the courage to meet her gaze.“Look at me, my dove?” A hand cups her chin, and finally (finally), she looks up. “You seem even more lovely in front of me,” she gently coos and Chihaya feels like her heart really will give up on her. Aymeric thumbs over the grooves of her horns, and she leans into her touch. There’s a certain feeling of power she gets when Aymeric can turn the Warrior of Light into a blushing maiden. “I could never tire of you…” Just as she feels the urge to kiss Chihaya, she gets stopped.“Wait.” Chihaya’s voice is meek and it makes her grimace. “Your butler…”“Pay him no mind.”Chihaya gets flustered again. “Wait, wait, wait…!” Again, she puts a hand on Aymeric’s chest. “I brought something for you.” A small satchel is presented to her. “There’s other things I collected from Othard in there as well.” Aymeric peeks into the bag, and sure enough, it’s filled to the brim with different pebbles and colorful shells.“Thank you,” she says, and places it on the table. “Now, where were we?” And just like that, her lips are so close to the other that one wrong move could have them–“I apologize for the wait, Madam Kawanami but I’ve brought–OH!” Dammit, Arnold. Suddenly, Aymeric regrets hiring him. “Oh, oh, excuse me…! I-I’ll just take them with me or place it here or–”“Leave it in the kitchen, Arnold,” Aymeric sighs as she pulls away from Chihaya. “You may also retire to your quarters for the day, if you wish.”“I, erm!” Chihaya can’t even look at him. “Yes! I shall take my leave…!” And like that, the butler scrambles to flee the scene.She sighs and gives Chihaya an apologetic smile. “Shall we move to somewhere more private?” With that, she whisks the both of them away into her personal chambers.There's a bookshelf in the corner, a table, and a bed. It's spacious, perhaps far too spacious for Aymeric. Her room has the bare basics and hardly any personal flair to it. A bedroom is a place for her to sleep in. Yet over the months of knowing Chihaya, slowly but surely, random rocks have begun to litter her space. There's a pressed leaf or flower in almost every book she has on that shelf. What if they both lived here? Would Chihaya change anything, buy new furniture, or do anything else? Aymeric's mind wanders adrift. What if they had children….? Just the thought of it sends her heart ablaze."Is anyone there?" Her voice breaks Aymeric from her thoughts. Chihaya waves a hand in front of her face, and this time, Aymeric is the one that's flushed."A-ahem! My apologies…" The usually composed knight looks away, embarrassed at spacing off with Chihaya in front of her. Seeing the bemused smile on her face is worth it, however."You call me lovely, yet here you are. What were you thinking about?" Chihaya teases her and she feels like blowing up. Usually, Chihaya would be on the other end of their affections, but it seems that she's finally in her element. "A gil for your thoughts, beautiful?" The Warrior of Light feels like she could topple mountains with the way she has Aymeric at her heel right now. She cups her face and finds her cheeks pleasantly warm. So lovely."I–!" She doesn't know what to say. "Gods, the things you do to me…" The pink spreads even further, up to her pointy ears, and Chihaya grins cheekily. Aymeric grabs a hold of her wrist and brings her palm towards her lips, kissing it. The ivory scales on top of her hand are smooth, Aymeric thinks, as she places more kisses on them. Lacing their fingers together, trailing her lips to Chihaya’s wrist, further up her arm, until Aymeric is pressing her shoulders down into the mattress. “All this talk of loveliness bores me. I think you look the best like this.”“Pinned under you like a tamed beast?” Chihaya tries to bite back but her blush does little to back up her snark.Aymeric holds both of her wrists above her head and dips down next to a horn. She rubs the tip of it and hums. “Did you file them down before meeting me?” They’re noticeably duller.“No,” Chihaya lies.“Hm?” Aymeric pulls away a little bit.She lets out a groan as she tries to free her hands. “....Yes. I do not enjoy poking people with my horns.”“Especially me?” They’re pressed deeper into the pillows.Chihaya sighs. “Yes, especially you.” Her pink hair is splayed out like a halo under her. Tensions in the room rise as Aymeric stares almost longingly at her lips. Chihaya catches her staring, waiting with bated breath. “I missed you.”“As did I, my dove,” she whispers and moves her face closer. “More than you would know. You are a brilliant fighter and adventurer, this I know but…” Her eyebrows furrow as she gazes into Chihaya’s cerulean eyes. “I wish I could keep you here by my side always. It seems any sense of decorum is lost when I’m with you.” Her voice is so low and deep that it makes Chihaya shiver.Aymeric presses her body even more into the other. “So many people are in awe of you–they admire you, adore you.” She grits her teeth. “It drives me to madness. You do.” She wants all of Eorzea to know that the Warrior of Light is hers. “I cannot stop thinking about you.”The woman pinned underneath her is at a loss for words. She’s embarrassed, obviously, confused, even a little frightened–but worst of all, she doesn’t hate it. There’s a fire smoldering in Aymeric’s eyes and just that alone is enough to make her chest tight. “I…”“Do not speak.” Her black hair hides her expression as she looks down in shame. “I know. I know I cannot hold you here forever and there’s never a day where it doesn’t pain me so.” She lets go of her wrists to wrap an arm around her waist. “And yet, the feeling of it all doesn’t go away no matter how much I tell myself to stop being unreasonable.” There’s a slight quiver to her voice. “What should I do…?”There’s been many situations where Chihaya had to make hard choices, but those trials pale in comparison to the anxiety she feels now. She embraces her back and soothes her. She doesn’t say anything.Suddenly, she finds her lips too occupied to speak anyway. A muffled gasp leaves her, but Aymeric doesn’t relent. “You,” the knight gasps out, “you don’t know even half of what you do to me.” Her words come out between kisses and Chihaya feels lightheaded. She can hardly catch up. “Are you perhaps a mage and nobody knows? Is this one of your tricks, to have me wrapped around your finger?” She doesn’t give her the option to respond. A large, calloused hand slips under her dress to caress her hip. One circle over the scales on her hip leaves her groaning into Aymeric’s mouth. “Perhaps I’ll show you how you make me feel like this…”Chihaya is going to crash and burn, and she fears that she would let her without fighting. “Aymeric…” Even the scales on her neck get pampered and she exposes it to her undivided attention. “Please…!”“I want you. I love you, more than you could ever know,” Aymeric gasps out. For once after a long while, she looks at Chihaya, and she could almost cry with the expression on the her lover's face. Chihaya’s eyes are glazed over, her chest letting out short but deep breaths. There’s a warm flush over her skin with even a few marks littering her collarbone. “You’re beautiful like this.”She’s too overwhelmed to even reply, instead bringing her back down to kiss her again. Perhaps this answer will suffice. She can’t say it back, not yet anyway. Just the thought of saying it frightens her more than anything else she’s faced thus far. Aymeric doesn’t make a fuss out of the lack of a response. “I will say it for both of us. I will tell the world how much you mean to me, that you’re mine. I’ll shout it from the top of the highest mountain to the heavens for even the gods to hear.” Once again, she laces their fingers together, and gives her a look of pure adoration. “I love you.”

Sitting across from Aymeric might just be the love of his life. She's hunched over the table, hand on her chin as her eyebrows furrow in thought. "May I move the horse over here?" Chihaya asks, and moves a black chess piece in a sideways L.He nods and smiles softly as she takes away one of his pieces. It was an obvious choice, he thinks, but seeing her triumphant little smirk makes it worth it. She could capture everyone but his king and he would let her."We could stop here and I would win," she says and motions at her prisoners of war (whom she dubbed.) "So I think we should stop."Aymeric laughs and shakes his head. "That's not how chess works, my dove." He rests his elbows on the table and folds his hands. Hers are hovered over his captured pieces. They're so different, the two of them, and his hands completely dwarf hers.She frowns. "I do not understand how you can find amusement in such a game," Chihaya wonders out loud, "though it seems only fitting for you, Lord Commander.""What do you mean?"Chihaya shuffles in her seat. "Well, you lead an army of knights and you're head of the House of Lords." She shrugs. "I see no need to elaborate further.""Could I request some more elaboration, my dove?" His tone is teasing and she lets out a huff. In truth, he only wishes to hear her speak more. It has been a while since they've both found time to see each other and rather than making large plans, they chose to stay at his manor. "Pray tell me." He leans his body forward and looks longingly into her cerulean eyes. They might be his favorite part about Chihaya, especially the rings of gold that outline her irises.She turns her head, embarrassed. "You are a smart man. Figure it out." Arms crossed, she looks at a painting to the side of her. They don't have a name for what they have, at least not yet. She wants to keep things under control.(In reality, she's too shy to admit that she likes Ser Aymeric.)He doesn't mind. They have these meetings anyway. At such high positions, they both have no shortage of admirers, troublesome as it may be. Perhaps going public might quell it some but he mostly wants to show all of Eorzea his love for Chihaya. Sometimes, just looking at her makes him feel like his heart will burst into flames.He wishes he had the power to stop time, to put to rest all of their responsibilities so that they could spend every waking moment together. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder but Aymeric could never tire of seeing Chihaya everyday."I concede," he says and smiles. "You've bested me, Chihaya."She rolls her eyes. "'Tis too late for any of that," she replies. "Besides, how could one be satisfied if their enemy just gives up? It's your turn." They both know that he will eventually turn the tides if they continue to play. He always seems to be ten steps ahead when it comes to chess. "I do not grow any younger.""But I grow tired." He fakes a yawn and makes a show of stretching his arms above his head. Finally, he stands from his chair and makes his way around the table, then right to where Chihaya still sits. He bends down and blankets his arms over her, his hands resting on top of hers. He can hear her hitch her breath as he rests his face near her neck."Aymeric…." Touch is something sensitive for Chihaya. It's not that the fearsome Warrior of Light hates being touched, but more so frazzled—especially when he's so tender and sweet with her.She turns her head to meet his gaze. They're so blue—far deeper than her own. His lashes are long and his eyes crinkle as his lips curl. "Hello," he mutters. She removes his arms around her and stands up from her chair. In a moment, they cage her to the table as she leans against it."Hello," she whispers back. A long leg makes its way between hers and Chihaya gulps. The difference between an Au Ra and an Elezen seems even more apparent now. A hand cups his face and he grabs it with his own, tracing the callouses and scars that mark her skin, even tracing the patterns of her smooth ivory scales. He presses a kiss into her palm.Her heart feels like it'll explode and she feels she might grow faint. To think that such a fighter could be reduced to a blushing maiden—it'd almost be shameful if someone saw them.(At this point though, she might be willing to let all of Eorzea see. That would scare off all the other women that yearn for the noble Ser Aymeric.)Chihaya gets caught staring at his lips and he smirks knowingly. Even after all this time, she has a hard time saying what she wants. "What has you so captivated, my dove?"Once again, she furrows her eyebrows and pouts slightly. "You already know what to do." Of course he does, but he wants to hear her say it. Oh, how he longs for her to be a little bit more selfish, especially over him…"I do not. There's a great number of things I can do, but mind reading is not one of them."Exasperated, she wraps a leg around his waist and her arms around his neck, pulling him in almost immediately. This time, he's the one that's blushing. Chihaya forces their heads to meet and her hand ghosts around his throat as he swallows a lump. She's smirking this time. "Humor me, Ser Aymeric." With that, they kiss—once, twice, as many times as they could ever want.

Nightmares often plague Estinien. Whether it be from her grim past, or the horrors she was forced to witness when Nidhogg possessed her body, her mind has no shortage of material to keep her tossing and turning at night. Oftentimes when she has one, she'll wake up gasping for breath with a tight knot in her chest. There's no one, she'll realize. No shades to chase her down dark hallways, or dragons coming to flood her home, and nobody who will keep her company when she's startled awake.That is, until now. Tonight is not unusual–nothing she hasn't experienced before. Estinien has a method for these things. She gazes up at the ceiling, closes her eyes, and takes deep breaths. Her hands are still shaking. This nightmare was half a memory and half a delusion of her own imagination.It was on the battlefields of Ala Mhigo, however long ago that was. The Garleans were preparing for an invasion, but were pushed back by the Eorzean Alliance and her willful warriors. Among them was their greatest champion, her comrade, her lover, her little lamb–Chihaya Kawanami. Triumphant as they were, Eorzea still faltered.Estinien remembers the scene all too well. She remembers leaders of each nation leading the charge, including her own Aymeric. She remembers how brightly ablaze the battlefields were, how you could hardly see the night sky while it was covered in smoke. When she closes her eyes again towards the ceiling, she can recall three of Chihaya's allies face down in the dirt, their bodies loomed over by one single Garlean."Don't," she whispered. How desperately she wanted to pull Chihaya away. Estinien saw how that he fought, how that no matter what they did, that monster didn't flinch one bit. "You mustn't fight." And yet, and yet.Their blades crossed. The sound of metal screeching against one another, yellow sparks flying off lance and sword; it all happened too fast for her to comprehend. And then, the sound of a body dropping on the floor.She should've come sooner, should've jumped in to help. Estinien still doesn't understand why she didn't leap at the first sight of Chihaya. When she looked up, her eyes almost couldn't believe it. Their Light, her weapon of Light, fell to the might of Garlemald. No, she realized, not yet. Not when she could still see Chihaya struggling to get up. But Zenos' last hit did a number on the warrior, and she could barely stand, much less pick her lance back up.There, among the rest of her fallen allies, Chihaya lied. The beast drew closer and closer, dragging his blade across the ground to deal the final blow. Not like this. Her story could not end like this. She forced her body to move, to kick Zenos out of the way or do anything. But invisible chains held her back, and Estinien could only look on in horror as his blade drew closer and closer. "Don't!" She screamed. "Wake up! Move! Move!" No one could hear her. Her own body wouldn't even listen to her. Then, her eyes made contact with Chihaya.It was a grim smile. The one a man who's about to die would wear. Her mouth was moving but she couldn't hear a damn thing. Then, she closed her eyes. A scream, and then Estinien bolted awake.

(But that's not how the real story ended. Just before the katana was about to slice the fallen warrior into two, Estinien's body moved with a speed unknown to even herself, and she scooped Chihaya into her arms and away.And the rest is history. News that the Warrior of Light fell to Garlemald's crown prince spread fast on the battlefield, not that Aymeric didn't desperately try to contact her via linkshell before this. The look of pure relief on Aymeric's face was something Estinien would never forget. "Thank you," the Lord Commander sobbed out as she held onto an unconscious Chihaya in her arms. "Thank you…" )

Estinien opens her eyes now to find not a sky filled with smoke, but a dark room. Her breathing is calm now, and her hands have stopped shaking. Her mind is still reeling. It's fine, she thinks, you're safe. She's at an inn in Kugane after settling some business with a dragon. She became a traveler after Nidhogg fell, but never did she think it would lead her halfway across the world.Next to her is her equal, her rival, her love. If you told Estinien two years ago that the Warrior of Light would be curled up next to her in bed like this, she would've laughed. Yet here they both are…She's vaguely reminded of their time together in Dravania, where they frequently spent nights camping out in the open. It's a memory she recalls fondly.Estinien looks down next to her to find Chihaya stirring in her sleep. Her pale pink hair is undone and frames her face like a messy halo. She gently moves a few strands that cover Chihaya's face and smiles softly, petting her head. The warrior stirs some more, until at last, her deep cerulean eyes open. The ring of gold around her irises almost glows in the moonlight. Her vision is blurry and she grumbles to herself. "Why are you awake?" Chihaya asks and rubs her eyes."I had a nightmare," she replies."What are you, a child?" Chihaya groans and stretches her arms. "It's still dark.""I know." Now Estinien feels a little silly for waking her up. It's not like she meant to. "I'm sorry.""It's fine. I don't care." Ah, leave it to Chihaya to be blunt as always. "Tell me what happened." She's more awake now, and she sits up, turning towards Estinien. "I won't laugh."Estinien scoffs and shakes her head. "It wasn't amusing by any means, no." She closes her eyes and feels a small hand reach out for hers. "It was at Ala Mhigo." Chihaya listens intently, for as much of a smartass she can be sometimes. "When the Garleans were marching towards us with Zenos.""Oh…" is all Chihaya can say."Yes. You…You fell. I couldn't move, no matter how much I willed my body to," Estinien sighs. "It was like I was a man possessed. Zenos was about to kill you and then…" Her voice quivers. "Well, I'm sure you can come to your own conclusion on that."Chihaya holds her hand a little tighter now. "I apologize for dying in your dream. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."Estinien snorts. "Yes. Do you know how much stress you put me through?" She wraps a bare arm around the smaller woman's shoulders. She looks down to see the bruises of last night forming into lovely purples littered across Chihaya's neck. She smirks to herself. "You look good like this.""Naked?" It's a rhetorical question. Chihaya brings the blanket further up her chest and looks away. This was bound to happen, and they both wonder why it didn't happen sooner, but that's a tale for another day. "You know just how to be so romantic.""The same could be said for you, no?" Chihaya rolls her eyes. Estinien leans down to give her a kiss on her cheek. Even after last night, something small like this still embarrasses Chihaya. "The life of a hero is a tumultuous one, and yet I could hardly stand to see you so defeated."She scoffs at Estinien's statement. "Imagine how I felt." She plays with her fingers. "Besides, think of it as payback for leaving Alphinaud and I without saying goodbye. Do you know just how worried he was for you? It was his idea to tear those eyes out of your body.""I know," she replies, lacing their hands together. After the end of the war, Estinien was at a loss. For so long her life has been driven by vengeance, so when Nidhogg was finally slain, she didn't feel the least bit of joy. Stuck at a crossroads for the first time in years, she didn't know what to do. She mentioned it to Chihaya once as a joke, but becoming a chocobo farmer seemed more and more appealing to her. "I apologize.""I can't say I forgive you, because I know you'll be gone by the morning." Chihaya doesn't hold back her words. After all, when will be the next time she would ever see Estinien? "Alphinaud misses you. Aymeric mentions you sometimes, wondering how you fare.""...And what about you?"She has to think about this question. "I don't know where I stand. You infuriate me, yet try as I might, I can't bring myself to dismiss you when you stand before me." Estinien is silent as she continues. "Perhaps me being angry at you means I still care. Still, to think you would show up at Othard? It's amusing."Estinien doesn't say anything. Rather, she slips a hand on the side of Chihaya's face, tilting it so that their eyes meet. The expression on her lover's face is almost unreadable, save for the faint look of sadness in her pools of blue. The taller woman leans down, letting their lips meet. Chihaya doesn't protest. For a while, they kiss, allowing themselves to indulge in one another until they inevitably have to part. "Could you sing for me?" Estinien whispers, their foreheads touching."Who says I could?" She replies. "I don't.""I know you can." Those nights in Dravania when it was Chihaya's turn to keep watch reveal her lie. Estinien is a light sleeper, and she would often hear her hum to herself. "Honestly, we've just spent the night together and you can't even hum a little tu–""Aaahhh, I get it, I get it…!" She pushes Estinien away, hands on her broad chest. "Such a romantic," she grumbles. For as much as Estinien angers her, she can't help but oblige her. She's spoiled. Holding onto Estinien's shoulder, she motions for her to lie down.Estinien closes her eyes as she sinks back onto the cushions. "I don't want to go back to sleep.""Well, I do. Now be quiet." Chihaya clears her throat and takes a deep breath, and begins singing. It's a haunting melody without any instruments to accompany it, yet there's a certain warmth there. Estinien doesn't know this, but it's a lullaby that her mother would sing when Chihaya couldn't sleep. She finishes her song and lets out a sigh. Estinien's breathing seems steady, yet she feels a large hand holding her wrist ever so gently. She looks down to see her beckoning to her. "Yes?" She asks."I don't want to sleep.""You know that we'll have to leave in the morning. It's easier if you fall asleep," Chihaya mutters. "I hate saying goodbyes." She moves down, and Estinien shifts her body so that Chihaya is lying on top of her. "So don't make it so hard.""Let me be selfish," she whispers, and brings her down so that they kiss. Chihaya can hardly say no when she asks so sweetly. She truly is spoiled. "This won't be the last time." Her hands travel to her bare waist as she pushes her legs apart. "This is a promise I can keep."Chihaya can feel herself overheating as their breathing gets heavier. She knows it will be awkward in the morning, knows she won't be able to meet Estinien in the eye, knows that it'll be months of no contact before she will ever see her again. And yet she finds herself wrapped in her embrace once again, waiting for the sun to come up.

It's morning in Old Sharlayan, and Chihaya thought she would take a walk to get used to the island. After all, it might just become her home away from home for the next few months while the Scions deal with the Telophoroi. No rest for the righteous, it seems. Trouble always seems to line up outside the doors of the Rising Stones.The sun has risen, and a cool breeze washes over the island. It's particularly balmy today. Chihaya leans on a bridge that overlooks the port town and sighs. It feels like the calm before the storm. She lets down her guard for only a moment when she senses familiar footsteps behind her—one that makes the scales on the back of her neck stand in attention."Fancy meeting you here," a gruff voice calls out to her. Chihaya sighs. The gods refuse to give her a peaceful morning, it seems."I should be the one to say that," she replies coldly. "What do you want?" A figure several heads taller than her slots themself right next to her standing spot, as they lean back on the marble bridge."What, I can't greet my colleague?" Estinien smirks and makes herself comfortable. "Beautiful morning, isn't it?"She rolls her eyes and grumbles under her breath. "Not with you around.""You act as though I am a stranger to you. After all we've been through? You wound me, milady." Estinien seems to chuckle at her own joke, though no one found it amusing other than herself. "A gil for your thoughts?"How long has it been since they could stand together like this without the Warrior of Light feeling like she should run away? Chihaya doesn't meet with one night stands, well, more than once, and only the gods know how much they've both been together at night. "Oh, nothing. I'm thinking of how much the heavens must loathe me if I'm stuck with you."Estinien scoffs. "We've known each other for so long and yet you still put up this act. It's a wonder just how Aymeric was able to get to you.""You leave her out of this," she bites back. The relationship between the Lord Commander and Warrior of Light is practically an open secret now. She used to try to keep it under lock and key, but after coming back from the First, she's grown old enough to not be embarrassed about her relationship. "She doesn't have a habit of getting up and leaving without saying goodbye."Estinien shrugs. "You'll never let me live it down, won't you, little lamb?""And don't call me that." She closes her eyes and sighs. "What do you want?""They're onto us, you know." She looks down at Chihaya to see that she has a bored expression on her face. "It'll be no good if we keep fighting all the time."Chihaya lets out a huff. "You make it too easy for me, though." The sea stretches out as far as the eyes can see. There's an air of calm in Old Sharlayan. For once, she swallows her ego. "But I suppose you're right."The Elezen gives her a small smile and turns around, leaning over the bridge with Chihaya. "It feels nice to talk without stepping so lightly around each other." She looks silly having to bend so low just so she can rest her elbows on the marble. How many couples have looked over the city like this? Plenty, Estinien ponders, though perhaps "couple" isn't the right word to describe the pair. Not yet.Friends, companions, partners, allies—none of them seem to describe what they have together. She figures there's no harm in asking the other woman. "What do we call ourselves?""Scions?" Chihaya answers almost immediately."No, you idiot. Us." Gods, the Warrior of Light has accomplished so much and yet she is still unversed in manners of the heart. Not that Estinien is any better."I don't know." Estinien has half the mind to walk away right now. But before she can, Chihaya continues. "Do we have to put a name on it?"Estinien closes her eyes and ponders the idea. "I suppose not." She thinks she likes this, this new found honesty. Not that they ever had much trouble being honest, but they've never discussed the manners of their odd relationship. "Would Aymeric mind?"Now it's Chihaya's turn to think. "No. I fear she has seen this coming for a long time. Might I add that it'd be good for the both of you to see each other often."Estinien grimaces at the thought. She can't run away from her forever, she knows this, but she doesn't enjoy being interrogated by the Lord Commander of her whereabouts. She already gets her fair share of nagging from Chihaya, anyway.Chihaya turns her head to look at her, and for the first time in a long time, she seems to genuinely smile at her. "Coming and going as you please without saying a word is a habit you'll have to break eventually." Seeing her content expression, Estinien almost blushes as she purses her lips thinking of what to say next. The fluttering feeling in her chest is keen on making her silent. Chihaya notices the faint blush on her cheeks and chuckles lightly. "Though with how old you are, I think it's just become who you are.""How come when I see you smile at me, it's at my expense…?" An exasperated groan leaves her. She closes her eyes, and reaches out to place her hand on top of Chihaya's smaller one. "Fine. I like you both too much to refuse, anyway."Her eyes seem to light up at this. "Ohoh, such bold words coming from the Azure Dragoon! Could it be that your ventures from the Far East have mellowed you out some?" Chihaya smiles even wider now, but she's laughing at her own joke, and Estinien wants to shut her up. "I should ask Tataru and Krile for a guide on how to find you should you ever run away from me again."She groans again and moves suddenly, pinning Chihaya between her arms. This seems to make her go quiet. "Shut up. You talk so much." There's a pretty blush spreading on the smaller woman's cheeks as she looks away from her. A cold, gloved hand is placed on her face, and she's forced to meet that sharp gaze once more. "You look good like this.""What, pinned underneath you like a scared animal? No thank you." She says that, but she doesn't make an effort to move out of her embrace. "We're in public, you heathen," she whispers."Like I ever cared for something like that. Besides, I reckon you enjoy being under me like this." It's her turn to tease Chihaya, and it's working.She tightens her fist and seriously comtemplates punching her, but Estinien is wearing armor, and Chihaya only has a pair of leather gloves on. It would be awkward to explain why her fingers are injured when they've only been walking around town since arriving on the island. Instead, she does the next best thing and reaches an arm out to push down on Estinien's neck, forcing her head forward. She quickly gives her a long kiss on the lips, one that will surely leave a pretty pink rouge stain on them, and slips out from underneath the Elezen's arms before she can react. "Krile just called me on the linkpearl, asking to meet at the café. Toodles, Estinien!"She stands there, stupefied. "I…you! Come back here!" The woman that's currently skipping away from her and laughing all the while, has felled eikons, slain Ascians, and has even saved another star from its doom. Add "capturing the Azure Dragoon's heart" to her list of achievements, and Chihaya Kawanami is truly a force to be reckoned with.

A good night’s rest is an elusive thing for the Warrior of Light. In previous years, she never had trouble, but alas, one too many burdens have made it difficult for her to get as much sleep as she would like. She wakes up with a start, eyes flying open and with her chest heaving for breath. It’s still dark. Nighttimes at Radz-at-Han are warm and humid for most of the year, and today is no exception. She sits up from bed with a sigh as she gazes out the window. Stars dot the sky and the moon shines high, casting a faint blue light on Eitherys. She closes her eyes.

Just like that, she’s back in a dream of her own making, at the edge of the universe. It’s quiet and stars blanket the blues and purple of the endless void. The air is cold and eerily still, as if life has paused all together. The hum of the Ragnarok fades as the Scions trudge along the land. No one dares to speak. Urianger and Y’shtola in particular look at the ground with grim expressions. In the blink of an eye, they lost a stalwart ally.“Survive.” Meteion, or rather, Thancred’s words rang in the air just minutes before. His death still heavy in their hearts, they continued forward. They had to, they must. She couldn’t feel anything. Perhaps it was denial that made her feel that way. Surely, he had to still be alive. Thancred has been on the brink of death one too many times, and this is just one of those moments, right? Truly, this couldn’t have been the end of his story. Thus does she walk with her fellow comrades in silence.One moment, Thancred is gone, and the next, Estinien pulls her away to the side to speak with her. “I have always admired how courageous you are, you know,” she says to Chihaya, holding her hand oh so gently. The Warrior of Light doesn’t know what to say. She’s too scared of what will happen next. So much for courage. Estinien’s voice too quivers. “Thus, you cannot stop me for what happens next. Promise me this.”“No.” She mutters, gripping her lover’s hand. “Don’t say that.” They both know what will happen next, yet even so, she doesn’t want to, refuses to accept it. “We’re going home together.”She shakes her head with a wry smile, and brings Chihaya into an embrace. “I’m sorry, little lamb.” Stubborn until the end, Chihaya rips herself from her and draws in a shaky breath, turning her back from her. She refuses to speak again.Everything happened so fast that she could barely catch her breath. One moment, Estinien stood next to her, and the next moment, she walked towards the dragon’s maw with open arms. Alphinaud and Urianger can barely restrain her as she tries to run towards her. Just before she’s whisked away into Meteion’s domain, Chihaya wakes up.

She opens her eyes, and looks to her side where the subject of her nightmare lies next to her. Estinien tries to pull the blankets to cover herself up with a grumble. “Do you mind?” Her voice is husky from waking up with a hint of annoyance in it, eyes bleary. “What’s wrong?”“Nothing,” Chihaya answers.“Don’t lie to me.” Estinien is now sat up with her arms crossed over her chest. “You woke me up so tell me.”“I…" She leans into her bare shoulder, her wife almost automatically wrapping an arm around her. Chihaya traces patterns on top of her hand. "Bad dream.""Clearly," she scoffs, but her tender touch betrays her sarcasm. "Gil for your thoughts?""As if you have any to spare," Chihaya replies and huffs in amusement. She closes her eyes once more, and she can hear the song of oblivion ring loudly. "It was of Ultima Thule."Estinien stiffens up. None of the Scions fully acknowledged what happened that day, or however much time passed during their time at the end of nothing. It was a hard time for all of them but none of their woes could compare to what Chihaya went through. "I'm sorry."She lets out a bitter laugh and furrows her eyebrow, mildly upset. "For what?" There's a hint of bitterness in her voice but she knows she's being irrational. "I was scared, Estinien." Swallowing a lump in her throat, she continues. "How would I have moved on? It was as if I was at that banquet all over again." Though the events of Ul'dah are but a sliver of the grief that she's gone through, it sometimes still haunts her. "Then came everyone else's turn." The breath she draws in is shaky. No matter how much time has passed, the fear that she would go home by herself still grips her heart. It was a wonder how she wasn't swept away by a tempest of pure dynamis.Estinien pulls her in closer when she notices her shaking. "It was all of our choices to make. You know this." She rubs circles on her lover's arm, smoothing over the scars that litter them.She leans in. "I do." Chihaya so desperately wants to say "but what about me?" The words die in her throat before she can, though."Yet even so, no words will ever tell you how sorry I am." Turning her face to meet her own, she cups Chihaya's cheek and….squishes it. "Need I remind you of your little stunt with Meteion at the end, though? Do you know how worried we were?" She pinches her cheek and Chihaya smacks her hand away, rubbing her face."You are such a romantic," she grumbles but the tears in her eyes that threatened to fall are no more. "All of you got your noble sacrifice, and what of mine? Did you not find it attractive?"Estinien closes her eyes and sighs in frustration. "And you can be so infuriating." She ruffles her hair while Chihaya protests. "Yes, you looked absolutely dashing with blood and sweat all over you. Why, you looked the most handsome when I was holding up your severed toe before Alphinaud stitched it back on.""My toe was not severed! You are putting lies in my head." Estinien could be telling the truth, in any case. After her fight with Zenos, she was half-lucid from the pain mitigation spells Alphinaud and the others casted on her. Not to mention that she was also exhausted both from the fight itself, and from the events that led up to it, as well as the shock that she was even still alive at that point.Still, they laugh together, their conversation moving on to lighter topics."...But I truly think that dodo bird looks exactly like you." Pointing outside their window, Chihaya motions towards some of the birds in question that go about their nights."You're delusional," Estinien scoffs. Though they've been allies for many years now, it was only a few months ago that they officially got married along with Aymeric.(It was supposed to be a small wedding, yet the Warrior of Light had no shortage of loved ones to invite. Even so, she was resolved to let the whole world know her love for the two.)Fingers intertwined, she holds their hands and places a kiss on top of Chihaya's scales. "All it matters is that we're together, here and now."She chuckles and presses herself to her side. "I suppose, as much of a pain in the arse you are to me sometimes."Estinien leans down, the two of them sharing a soft kiss with no complaints from the smaller woman. She lingers there, looking almost reverently into Chihaya's eyes. One with the same shade as the ocean, and the other almost all devoid of color. She kisses her again. "And yet you love me all the same."A small smile and a laugh later, the Warrior of Light announces her defeat. “Yes, I do.” Their fingers are laced together and their matching rings glint in the moonlight. “And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

The burden of being the Warrior of Light is something she's deeply familiar with. The events that followed Ul'dah, fighting wars Chihaya knew little about, saving worlds, seeing friend and foe alike dying because of her—yes, she knows it all too well. Yet none seem to compare to the weight she carries now.The Scions, her beloved family, have just slain the final Lightwarden so that Kholusia may see the night sky. Vauthry proved himself to be a mighty adversary. Half a man and half a sin eater with strength Chihaya had never seen before; indeed, more than enough strength to lord over a small nation. She approaches Vauthry's body and puts her hand forward. Trails of Light emit from him and up her arm, his existence fading into nothing. He would be remembered, she concludes. As a villain or a beloved leader, she does not know. An air of silence lies on what was once his domain.Ryne's voice cuts through the tension as she points up. "We…we did it! Look!" The sky seems to split into two. From the rift comes the familiar blanket of night, relief flooding her own body as well. In time, Norvrandt has become Chihaya's home away from home. After all, where else would she go without her friends? "I'm so glad!" The Oracle falls to her knees and she can hear Thancred fussing about. For a moment, she appreciates the peace she has brought onto this star.That is, until she can feel a sharp pain in her stomach. She could barely react before she doubled over in pain once more. "Chihaya!" The twins call out to her at the same time. The Scions shouted throughout the room, but she could hardly hear them over the pain assaulting her body. It was burning, scathing, blinding. What feels like bile comes up, but when it comes out, she looks down at her hand to see nothing but a bright white liquid."Her body can't hold in the Light," Y'shtola murmurs. Her brows knit and her face twists in a mix between frustration and concern. "Urianger, if you aught up your sleeve, you need to tell us now!"Alisaie is no better. Fists clenched until her knuckles go white, she turns to the man. "Now is not the time for games! Do something!" Did they both know what would happen to Chihaya this entire time? The young woman asks herself, but perhaps there's a better time to consider Urainger's morals.Chihaya is on the floor, barely hanging onto consciousness when Ryne's voice rings clear. "Oh gods, the sky…!" With what little strength she has, she looks up to see all her hard work fading into a sea of white. She can't even laugh or cry. It all hurts too much. Her fingers grow stiff, as if they're turning to stone from the inside out. Is she turning into a Lightwarden? Will she die? All these questions run through her mind, and she wishes the gods would answer them for her.Throughout all this, the one man who hadn't said a word since Vauthry's defeat approaches Chihaya. "The burden of the Light is too much for one person, isn't it?" She reaches a hand out to the Crystal Exarch. Surely, he must know what to do. "Does it hurt? Shall I take it off your hands, O Warrior of Darkness?" His voice is inexplicably calm. Gently, he holds her hand as if it's made of porcelain.(For all she knows, that could be exactly what was happening and she would be none the wiser.)Ropes of light emanate from her being, trailing up his arm and into his with a serene smile on his face. It's the same one she's seen on men who know they will die. She looks up, barely able to see out of her eye. "What are you doing?" Her voice is weak and frail. The Exarch doesn't say a word, instead standing up."And so the vaunted hero meets her tragic end, but before she can, a familiar face steps from the crowd!" The Exarch makes a show of twirling his robes. "Surely, her trusted ally will save her and deliver her from death.""Nay, for her right hand man has been deceiving you all!" He slams his cane onto the ground, and a circle of light comes from the point of contact. No one can tell what kind of expression he has under the hood. "Did you think that I cared for this doomed world? This star is beyond redemption, and there are new places to be explored! With this power, who knows what places I can travel to. You Scions of all people would understand, don't you? Esteemed adventurers as you are.""Damn you!" Alisaie cries out and she nearly jumps the Exarch, her sword at the ready, when Urianger stops her."I bid you let him go!" Though his hands are shaking, his command leaves no room for debate. Y’shtola raises her fist, but puts it back down.Someone do something, please. A scream climbs and dies in her throat, as the feeling of petrification spreads throughout her body. Even breathing is a struggle. The Exarch, sensing her growing pains, turns back around and bends down to meet her gaze. One of them seems to be losing color, and his face twists in concern. “I’m sorry,” he whispers and cradles her face in his hand as if she’ll break at any moment. Perhaps she will. “If only we met in more peaceful times, my friend.” He stands back up and musters up one last brave smile. “And so the villain steals the prize from the hero as her comrades can do nothing but watch on.”“Unhand me, Urianger!” Alisaie yells.“No, it can’t be true!” Ryne grips the front of her dress.“You knew about this.” Y’shtola mutters, not knowing whether to be angry or frustrated. “He intends to take the Light with him to gods knows where, and die with it.” She turns to Urianger, who says nothing. “You should’ve told us sooner.”Then, a loud bang, and the sound of a body dropping. Chihaya hears muffled footsteps approach her, but she struggles to look up to see who it is. They're too heavy to be any of the Scions. "Oh, you poor thing," a voice chimes out.The last thing she needed at this moment was Emet-Selch's presence. Alas, she doesn't have the energy to tell him off. He bends down and holds her under her chin, far less gentle than the way the Exarch held her just moments before. "Hmph. Perhaps I put too much faith in you." Would the last thing Chihaya ever see be Emet-Selch's disappointed expression? "Rest now. Even the heavens can tell just how tired you must be." After he says that, he places his hand on the back of her neck, and whether it was from an incantation or her exhaustion, her body goes slack while her mind drifts into slumber.

When Chihaya wakes up, it's with a start. She shoots up from bed but immediately falls back down. Sharp pains make her chest heave as she catches her breath. She closes her eyes, wondering what happened. It must've been a bad dream. Still, the throbbing pain in her right eye and her entire being feeling like it's been shattered makes her think otherwise. Unbearable aches aside, she musters up the strength to limp towards the window, where a faint glow permeates through it.Dread fills her stomach. The panels push open with little effort. It's an all too familiar sky, one that's far too bright and far too blinding. Her body feels cold and she can only watch that loathsome sky with contempt. "I see," she says out loud to no one in particular. Then, she climbs the rails."What are you doing!?" A familiar voice calls out to her and promptly yanks her arm back, pulling her to the ground with a loud thud. Pain aside, she whips her head around to see none other than Ardbert with concern written all over his face. "Are you crazy!?""Are you crazy!?" Chihaya shouts back and tries to rip her arm from his grasp, but he doesn't let go. None of this makes sense. How can he touch her? That aside, she can't handle anything at all right now. "Let go of me!""No!""I said, let go!""Enough!" Ardbert yells and throws her body like a doll and into a tight embrace. That alone is enough to stop her. A sob rips from her chest. She tries to claw at his arms, but to no avail. He can't feel anything through his armor anyway."It's not your fault," he tries to reason. She only cries harder. "None of it is, so please." He squeezes her for a moment, and she weakly bangs her fists against him, sobbing. "Please…"They sit there in silence while she lets it all out. How long has it been since she's been embraced like this? Since she last allowed herself a moment of weakness? Chihaya doesn't know. It feels awful. Ardbert is the first to speak. "I'm sorry. This world has had enough heroes, and yet you still…" The sentence trails off to nothing.Adbert knows better than anyone what she is going through. To save everyone, to do everything right, and in the end amount to nothing? To lose everything? Yes, he knows it all too well. "I'm sorry…" They sit there, silent once more with only her sobs to occupy the space. "Everything will be fine, I'm sure of it…"Chihaya was never a fighter, not before any of this. In fact, she was never meant to be a hero. Yet here she stands (or rather, crumpled on the ground) with the weight of two stars on her shoulders. It's far too much for one person to bear, and yet, and yet.When asked why she fights, she knows not what to answer. For glory and fame? For power? None of it matters to her. For those they've lost, and for those that can still be saved. Those are the words Minfilia has said to her but even those don't ring true either. Why, then, does she fight?It's because she's the only one that can do what she must. If not for herself, then for those who cannot fight. She tells herself this, over and over, but here stands the greatest test of her resolve. When faced with such momentous failure, how can she deal with it all?It's not her fault, Ardbert says, and she wishes it were true. It'd be easy to push the blame onto someone else. Urianger, for setting this plan into motion; Y'shtola, for not revealing the truth immediately despite being close friends; or even the mysterious Exarch, who calls himself an ally, yet keeps his secrets close, and forced her and everyone else onto this path in the first place. Yet she can't. Her own kindness, perhaps—or the fact that she let down so many people, even squandering their own sacrifices, that weighs her down. The guilt of it all is too much.Some Warrior of Light she is. In the end, it's only Chihaya Kawanami that can do what she has to do. She's the one that had to slay all the Lightwardens, absorbing all of their corrupted aether into her own. She's the one that has to carry it all, yet she cannot even do that much. She's tired. She doesn't want to do anything anymore. Yet at the end of the day, she'll have to face everyone and everything again and again with a smile on her face. Because that is what all heroes do, right? All Scions fight for a better world, don't they? Surely this must be why She chose Chihaya as Her champion? The Warrior of Light doesn't know.Finally, she pulls herself free from his embrace, and trudges towards a mirror. Her skin is gaunt, and her hair is a mess. But worst of all are her eyes. Dark circles aside, she notices that her right eye is almost completely devoid of color. She closes her left and tries to focus on the other side, but she feels a splitting headache before she can try harder. No doubt a result of consuming too much light."Everyone must be concerned for you," Ardbert calls out to her softly. His reflection comes into view and they make eye contact through the mirror. "You should go outside." She only shakes her head."I assure you that they aren't." It comes out more harshly than she intended, but she's too bitter to care. "I can't do this anymore." He can only say nothing. Even going through it himself once, he doesn't know how to comfort her. When someone is too tired to keep on going, there's no way to convince them to persevere.She doesn't realize when Ardbert stops making his presence known until there's a knock at her door. It already cracks open before she can scramble back in bed to pretend she's asleep. "Excuse me…" Another familiar voice calls out meekly, one that's not expecting the room's owner to be up and about and looking haggard. Chihaya turns her head to see Alisaie holding a tray of food, but subsequently dropping it upon seeing her friend. "Oh gods, you're awake…!" She rushes towards her, noticing her tears but opting to hold her shoulders and pat her down. "Thank goodness…!"Alphinaud trails not too far behind and joins his sister. He's not as touchy as her, opting to stay a close distance beside Chihaya, but goes over her physical health. "Full glad are we to see you awake, my friend." They're both relieved, yet their concern is all too visible.Spare me your pity, Chihaya wants to spit out but she cannot. She can't treat them like that. Even after all that she has gone through, she still thinks of others. Instead, she says nothing.Perhaps they've known her too long, or they're just being polite, but they don't ask about her tears. A part of her wishes that they would, though she would give them an answer they wouldn't have wanted to hear. Alisaie hugs her tightly before Chihaya can simmer in her sorrow further, and she can feel the young girl's hot tears through her nightgown. Shocked, she doesn't move, before hugging her back, though with less vigor."I was so scared," she sobs, and Chihaya can feel her heart lurch forward. How could she ever be cruel towards Alisaie? "So, so, unbelievably scared…We promised we wouldn't leave each other…!" Her already weakening walls crumble further, and Chihaya tightens her hold on Alisaie, quietly sobbing with her. Even as she denounces her comrades for leaving her in the dark, she can never be cruel to the twins.Alphinaud places a comforting hand on her back and is pulled into the hug by Alisaie. He gives them all a wry smile but there’s tears in his eyes too. “You were asleep for far too long, Chihaya. We feared you would never…”“But enough of that, will you?” Alisaie interrupts her brother and pats Chihaya. “It’s enough for us that you’re still here.”She feels relieved. Through all the time that they’ve been together, there’s no doubt in her mind that they love her as much as she loves them. “Thank you, truly,” she manages to mumble out, her voice weak from her previous shouting and crying. Alphinaud dries her tears with a handkerchief. Normally, Chihaya would’ve stopped him while saying something about not wanting to sully it, but she allows him to comfort her. Ever the stalwart allies and friends, they relish in each other’s warmth.They eventually part, and Alisaie is the one to speak first, meeting Chihaya's sullen gaze. The older woman can feel a headache coming on. "Your eye…" A small hand reaches up to hold her face, but the girl only shakes her head and smiles. "But as long as you can still breathe, my friend.""Yes, so long as you still stand with us, then there's nothing we cannot overcome together. Isn't that so?" Alphinaud replies.But she doesn't agree immediately. The twins deserve the truth. "I'm tired." The Warrior of Light looks down in shame."We know," they say at the same time."If you would continue to fight with us, then we would be honored, but if…" Alisaie can't bring herself to finish her statement, fists clenched. "But we can discuss this another time, yes? Surely you must be hungry. Can you walk?"Chihaya shakes her head. "I'd prefer to not be seen like this." She glances at her haggard self in the mirror and grimaces. The people of the Crystarium have no need to see her so weakened. "I'd also like to keep visitors at a minimum…"The twins look at each other and nod, understanding what to do with no words needed. "Alisaie will fetch you anything that you'll need, and I shall assess your health if you would allow it.""Feel free." She's already feeling tired, and Alphinaud picks up on it quickly, motioning her towards her bed. "Thank you, and I apologize…""What for?" He asks. "If anything we should–" He cuts himself off. "Pray, give it no mind. Can we tell our comrades that you are awake?"The question makes her visibly flinch. "Y-yes," she hesitantly answers. "...Though I ask that only you two visit me. I don't think I'm ready to see everyone yet." She tries to give them an apologetic smile, but it falls flat. They both nod."If there's naught else that you need, then I shall be on my way." Alisaie is out the door. "I shall be back swiftly! I hope you enjoy fruit and eggs!" Her voice is already a far way off.Thus leaving Alphinaud and Chihaya in her room. She decides to speak first. "What happened to the Exarch?"Alphinaud closes his eyes and sighs as he pulls a chair to sit beside her bed. "Emet-Selch took him away." All she remembers is a gunshot, and the sound of a body dropping. It must've been his. A storm of emotions brews inside her, but most of all, she feels betrayed about the Exarch's secrecy."And how do the others fare…?""Well enough, save their concern for you." She looks away, but he gives her a reassuring pat on her hand. "But no matter. May I examine you?"She nods, albeit wearily. He closes his eyes and puts his hand, radiating some of his aether off it. "Ryne did a fine job staving off the Light, but your aether is still too unstable. I'd need Y'shtola's opinion, unless you would allow her to see you?"Chihaya knows he's being reasonable, but she immediately shakes her head. The other woman's secrecy is still too sore of a subject for her. Even so, Alphinaud and his unending patience, nods. "Then I shall continue checking your body for any lingering ailments. It shouldn't be long." They sit in silence for the rest of the time, and Alisaie eventually returns. Not much more conversation is shared between the three, and just like that, the day ends.

As time crawls slowly day by day, Chihaya sees new old faces. Ryne being one of them. In truth, the young girl has always been intimidated by the Warrior of Darkness, and perhaps even more so after the incident at Mt. Gulg. Even so, Chihaya tries to not scare her too much with her misery. She is only a child, after all.Chihaya stares out the window when someone knocks on her door. Without even answering, the mysterious visitor opens it and allows themself inside. "...Can I help you?" She calls out, mildly irked at her peace being disturbed."I see you're out and about," a familiar voice calls out, making Chihaya flinch when she recognizes it. Y'shtola gives her a wry smile. "Your aether…"Strained, Chihaya cuts her off. "Now is not a good time, Y'shtola." She's not ready to forgive her yet. "I bid you, let me be." She's satisfied with having the twins and Ryne as company already.She shakes her head. "I will not. The others are growing more concerned for you," she begins. "...Me especially."Chihaya draws in a shaky breath to calm her brewing rage, but part of it still slips. "Then why didn't you tell me about Urianger's plans immediately!?" She snaps. Y'shtola doesn't even move."I understand your anger, but this is for your own go–""I don't want to hear it! Everyone is always thinking about what's best for me, but what about what I want!?" Her outburst causes her a sharp pain in her torso, and she hunches over. Y'shtola runs to stabilize her, but she weakly pushes off her hand. "I thought we were friends, Y'shtola." Frustrated, angry, and most of all sad, tears begin to well up."...So you heard everything before then, didn't you?" Her eyebrows are furrowed, and she looks down at the ground. Whatever expression she wears, Chihaya cannot, and will not tell. "Then why didn't you confront me?""Don't try to push the blame onto me," Chihaya hisses out. "I trusted you. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, that you truly did care for me, that you'd come find me on your own and tell me."Y'shtola closes her eyes, and then takes a step towards Chihaya. She takes one back. "I'm sorry. I fear I was insensitive." Chihaya rolls her eyes. "But more than that, I apologize for betraying your trust."Suddenly, she grasps her hand in hers. "You have every right to loathe me. The gods know that I deserve it after all that we've, no, that I've put you through." She holds her tighter. "I would not be upset if you did not forgive me, but I ask that you please let me examine you, and make sure that you are well. I bid you, Chihaya." She lets go.The Warrior of Light was always a fool for her friends. She sighs, finally agreeing. Both of them know that neither will let down, but this time, Chihaya is too tired to keep fighting. "Thank you," Y'shtola says, before beginning her examination.After some time, in complete and utter silence, Y'shtola finally speaks. "There we go. Though your aether appears fragmented, it's somewhat stable thanks to Ryne's powers…But I would compare it to a cracked dam about to spill over.""So will I just die?" She asks plainly.The other shakes her head and gives a dry laugh. "Too soon to say. Though rest assured that I and the other Scions will do our best to see that you are safe."After a few more moments of silence, she continues. "No words will ever tell you just how sorry I am," she mutters under her breath. "Your life is your own, Chihaya. Nothing will ever change that." Then, she looks at her, as if staring right into her friend. "May I embrace you?""...You may.""Thank you." Arms wrap around her shoulder, and she awkwardly embraces her back, though Chihaya soon melts into Y'shtola. "You are more cherished than you will ever know, my friend. Take care."With that, Chihaya spends the rest of the day in solitude. No one dares to knock on her door after that.

"Remember us," were his last words before Emet-Selch faded into nothingness.Dying for a past long gone, and fighting for a future everlasting—such is the fate of Dark and Light. Chihaya closes her eyes.She sees Ala Mhigo, and she sees Doma. She has seen the treachery that the Empire has wrought with their hands, all the lives that they took, all the crimes that they committed for their righteous cause. She sees a woman who has risen up from the shadows of her past, and has made a legacy for herself. She sees a man who brought together half a continent to fight. She sees his loyal retainer, kneeling before a shrine and praying for forgiveness. And at last, she sees her parents–a couple that ran from their home in search of a new life for their children.She holds all the people that have touched her life some way or another close to her heart, and she quivers with rage. Her hands are shaking.Remember us.She sees a girl who's been pushed into a corner, her family forced to side with the empire for the sake of her future. Safety. Love.She sees another woman who has been dealt nothing but bad cards, and has turned her back on a world that does not love her.Remember us."I'll kill you." The Warrior of Light was always a compassionate woman, yet this time, there is not even a speck of kindness in her voice. "I'll kill you!" With the last bit of her strength, she lurches forward at the fading form of Emet-Selch. Her hands reach out to his neck, or rather, what remains of it."Remember us—Remember us!? I'll kill you!" Her shouts are hard to listen to. It's the type of yell that tears at your throat—one filled with the anger of thousands of sundered souls, all forming into one adventurer who's borne witness to them all.No one tries to stop her as she attempts to squeeze the last bit of life from him. If he can even sense her anymore, he doesn't make it known as he gives one last serene look. He smiles the smile that she's seen on dying men, and she curses herself.If only she had the strength to strip him of his peaceful end. If only she could see him struggle under the might of the world as she wrings her hands around his neck.Remember us, he said. But would he remember them?

At the edge of the universe where creation ends lies two broken bodies. One of a man who lived to die by the sword, and another man who will die with a life half-lived.It's warm, Chihaya wonders to herself. She's had many brushes with death, stared him down as she'd put on the face of a hero. But none have come close to the encounter she's in now. She realizes she doesn't have the courage to die.On the brink of death, memories don't flash before her eyes. Instead, she curses herself for being the most unlucky bastard in all of Eitherys. She asks herself why the floor is so warm, why it feels like her parents are hugging her, why it feels like being in the arms of her lover after so long, why death's embrace feels so welcoming and wrong at the same time.The man lying next to her, her executioner, is speaking. But she says nothing in reply. After taking his life, Chihaya doesn’t want to hear what he has to say. He doesn’t deserve that kindness, even on his deathbed. To think that the last thing she would hear before she dies is the sound of his voice.Everything hurts. Everything is broken and being barely kept together by her weakening consciousness.Chihaya Kawanami, the Warrior of Light, doesn't want to die a hero. She wants to go home and eat her mother's cooking. She wants to have a picnic with her friends under the shady canopies of Gridania. She wants to go to Ishgard and say hello to Aymeric and Estinien. She wants to tell everyone that she loves them one more time.Her heart lets out one last wretched thump, snuffing out the brightest light of hope.