Traveler

What laid before them was not the usual wildlife fauna, or the creatures that inhabited these grounds regularly. It was man-made walls and walkways that led in a spiraling number of passages filled with Serpent Reavers. The blue tattoos on their faces gave them away as Azlyn, Krile, G’raha, and Ejika slowly dealt with their hostility.

Along one of the paths, they entered an open room with several locked doors. Three pirates were standing by one of the northern doors—hearing them approach they stopped their discussion to look at them.

“What’s this, mates? Looks like we have some scallywags in need of handling. Get ‘em!” The man with the parrot yelled, pulling out his own axe to attack. Azlyn dove into his assault, using her own axe to deflect the blow meant to decapitate Krile. She started to push him back while G’raha and Ejika handled the remaining pirates. When both of his buddies dropped during battle, the man with the parrot panicked, running over to the northern door. He was fiddling with his keys as he successfully opened it to run away.

One of the fallen pirates tried to call out to him. “Captain… Madison… ughhh.”

Azlyn walked over to the unconscious Serpent Reavers with some rope they brought with them. “Tie them up. We’ll let the Yellowjackets apprehend them on their go-around.”

G’raha went to work, expertly tying them together. Ejika went to disarm them of any potential means to cut the ropes. Then for good measure, they threw them into an alcove tucked away in the room.

“Let’s hurry to catch this Captain Madison.” Azlyn said, bringing her axe up to rest on her shoulders. They rushed into the next available rooms, finding a large, wooden covered area meant to be the pirates living quarters. Several pirates started to run to them, weapons brandished to strike. G’raha didn’t bother avoiding the fatal points, taking any shot that he could. Ejika too was trying to divert the pirates from ambushing them, setting fires off into the big wooden complex to prevent a group from attacking.

Some looked torn, wanting to put out the fires, while others were hellbent on attacking them.

“Stop them from getting to the Captain’s Quarters!” A pirate yelled.

Azlyn mercilessly rendered many unconscious. Some she severed a limb or two before Krile tended their wounds. At best they wouldn’t bleed out, at worst they wouldn’t have a few fingers or toes. When they searched one of the rooms with the prisoners, many of the them told them that the Captain’s Quarter’s key would be on the Cellguard’s person. G’raha stripped that person until they found the article they mentioned. Giving them thanks, they bided them to leave from the path they came from.

It wasn’t long before Azlyn found a room she could open the door with. Within the small space was a large Roegabyn surrounded by several Miqo’te, hume, and hyur prostitutes. He shoved one of the girls off him as he began his attack against their party. Krile blasted him with an Aero spell, which Ejika followed with an iceberg. G’raha did he best to bind him into a central location, and Azlyn charged in with her face. Like many of the pirates before him, under their combative skillset and teamwork they rendered him unconscious. As they did before, they tied him up with ropes.

“Th-thank you.” One of the girls approached them hesitantly.

“If you’re well enough, I’d advise you to leave this area at once.” Krile replied, pointing to the way they cleared.

Another girl came forward holding another key. “Take this—you’ll need it to open the Waverider Gate.”

Ejika took the key, and they immediately rushed out from the room. They had yet to find this Captain that eluded them. They ran over to the only gate they hadn’t opened yet, and dealt with the two Serpent Reavers guarding it.

Running down the linear path, once more they entered an open space, with several closed doors and gates. Captain Madison from before was waiting for them with a smirk.

“Tough lookin’ crowd we got Polly, we’re gonna hafta take care of ‘em!” He charged toward Azlyn this time, as she seemed the more plausible target to get rid of first. She held him off, as he viciously swung his blade at her. They traded blows between one another, getting exhausted with each heavy blow. Azlyn could feel the sweat drenching her neck and back as she continued this heavy assault.

It wasn’t long before the Captain pulled out a whistle from his breastpocket, and blowing into it. A hoard of barking could be heard, as the gate on the western side of the room opened to reveal four dogs charging to attack. Ejika noticed them right away, summoning several arcane bursts of area effects at the mouth of the gate. G’raha assisted with the dogs, while Krile kept an eye on Azlyn’s physical state. She was casting several spells of healing her way, but with each cure came another slew of cuts and deep lacerations to her arms, chest, and legs.

Azlyn had been able to dodge the fatal attacks, keeping just a hair’s width out of his range in those attacks. She also seemed to be dealing him some damage as well, as he started laboring for breath. Once again, he took out a key and rushed to the northern exit.

“Not—this—time!” Azlyn yelled at him, chucking her axe into his back. He sensed her throwing the weapon at him, and he dodged just in the nick of time. Deflecting the blow back to the side. He then proceeded to take one of his daggers, gripping the tip in one hand and chucked it back to her. She wasn’t anticipating a dagger getting thrown, haphazardly sidestepping away. The bite of the metal dug into her arm as he ran further into the open gate.

Azlyn felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she plucked the dagger from her arm. The tip had been coated with poison. She bit her lip, as G’raha, and Krile ran up to assist her. Ejika went over to retrieve her thrown axe in the far corner of the room.

“You’ve been poisoned.” G’raha noticed the purple residue on the dagger.

Krile started a simple enchantment to mend her wounds, and then started a ritual to cleanse her of the poison. Azlyn shook her head of the pain. “We have to get him.” She tried to move ahead, but G’raha held her arm to prevent her from moving forward.

“Wait until you’re healed. Krile’s almost done.”

Ejika handed Azlyn back her weapon. She sighed. “The more time he has, the more time we lose the initiative.”

Krile finished her spell, and Azlyn started to feel better. The poison seemed to dissipate from her wound. “It means we also have time to prepare. Let’s hurry on in.”

The four nodded in agreement, pushing into the next portion of Sastasha. This area had been different from both the areas they had been in previously. The smell of fresh seawater and the lapping of waves alerted them of an open way to the ocean.

“This could be their means of entering and exiting Sastasha. It would explain why the scouts near the entrance never saw them on their side.” Ejika surmised, pulling his staff up. “I hate this place. Let’s deal with the remaining pirates and get out of here.”

They entered the cove, seeing a ship docked further in. They could also see Captain Madison shouting orders to the remaining pirates to attack them. Several rounds of continuous fighting, as they were forced to combat multiple groups of Reavers in the wide-open space of the cove. As the last Reaver had been rendered unconscious, they pursued the Captain.

They ran into the adjacent cove, blocked by the gates. Easily dismantling the lock with ease, Azlyn’s group rushed in to see Captain Madison talking to an overtly large Sahagin. It stared down at Captain Madison, before turning to look at their unsolicited arrival.

“Denn! These intruders are onto us!”

“Pshhhh—you sssully our ssspawning groundsss, shorewalker.”

Captain Madison looked ready to refute him, only the Sahagin rushed at him with his huge glaive. With a cleaving blow to his neck, the Captain dropped to his knees leaving his head to roll away from his body. Azlyn grimaced but readied her own weapon as she glared at the Sahagin.

The Sahagin growled at them, baring his fangs as he yelled. “Denn the Orcatoothed will finisssh you—finlesssh fools! The Lord of the Whorl sshhall ssssup upon your ssssouls.”

As the fight commenced, Azlyn had ran headfirst into battle—her roar echoed loudly into the open cove as she started to hack and cleave at this Sahagin. The assault was a slow one, where she dealt with the grandmaster orchestrating the schemes behind Sastasha. G’raha and Ejika were doing their best to assist, while Krile was calling out different strategies and change of tactics.

Azlyn noticed Denn the Orcatoothed arching his head back, as something started to froth at his reptilian lips. She dodged to the right, as an acidic burst of bubbles spewed from his mouth coning out into an open arc where she had just been standing. She continued to attack him.

“G’raha! I sense something is amiss by the grates!”

The Miqo’te rushed over, keeping his distance from Denn as he dealt with whatever was causing the bubbling by the side. Ejika also had been forced to take the adjacent side, dealing with the unsettling bubbles over there.

Azlyn tried to keep the Sahagin in a central area where the casters and rangers could still hit him from behind—and then she saw a burst of energy come forth from G’raha’s arrow. He yelled. “Give our regards to your Lord in hell!”

An aethereal blast of magicks emerged from his arrow tip as a large stream of energy pulsed straight into Denn the Orcatoothed. The arrow landed true, sticking into his lower rib as a dark smoke started to surround the sahagin. It wasn’t long before Denn swayed, and finally dropped to the ground. The creature having been dealt a blast of aetheric energy burst into dark mist disappearing into nothing but black smoke.

Everyone joined together, before Azlyn pumped her fist in the air. It seemed like they were able to defeat the evil within Sastasha Seagrot on that day. Ejika applauded G’raha for his tactically placed one-liner, while Krile let several washes of curing magicks fall onto them all.

“We should report to the Yellowjackets and have them apprehend these pirates before they get away.” Azlyn replied, and slowly they made their way back out from the Seagrot. Many of the pirates they passed had still been unconscious—and they had an easier time navigating back to the entrance since they cleared out the wildlife that threatened them earlier.

At the first peak of sunlight from the caverns entrance, they started to sprint out and back into western La Noscea. The familiar open path that led to the dusty trails beyond, the same sentry from before, and an older male with what seemed to be his granddaughter stood off to the side. Azlyn made notes that Edda’s group was not present at the time.

The sentry walked over to them, eyes wide as he approached them. “By the Twelve, did you kill them all?” He pointed to her blood-soaked cowl. Even with her hood up, he probably was able to discern by assumption her nickname in those parts.

“We apprehended most, some have been treated so they don’t bleed out. You’re going to need to take a squadron in and pick them up.” G’raha explained.

Ejika pulled out a parchment of paper. It appeared to be a map of the Sastasha Seagrot. “Take this map, and follow the instructions. You’ll find the hidden wall switch by one of the corals. From beyond you’ll find all the pirates and their hideout.”

The sentry dumbly nodded at the information dump, and then started to call into his linkpearl to his own captain.

Krile stretched. “Well, let’s report to Baderon and rest the remainder of the day. My energy is spent.”

Azlyn agreed, wanting nothing more than to take off the bloody cowl and soak in a warm bath. Krile activated her teleport spell back to Limsa Lominsa, which led to a chain reaction of teleports back to the City-State proper.

She welcomed the sight of the white paved bricks and the giant crystal looming in the plaza. She saw Krile, G’raha, and Ejika already reaching out to teleport to the small crystal in the upper decks. She thought of the Aftcastle and felt herself get whisked away into the flow of aether. Her friends waited for her before they walked back into the bar. Azlyn had been used to the constant stares from the people that it seemed commonplace now. They found Baderon’s bar as empty as they left it early that day.

“Back then, are ye?” He gave Azlyn a bemused look as he eyed her hood to toe. “With all yer limbs, an’ a tale to tell, I wager?” Baderon reached beneath his counter to pull out the strong ale. He poured all four of them glasses, passing them out. G’raha downed his instantly, shaking the bite away. Krile politely slid her drink to G’raha. Ejika would have done the same, but Azlyn reached over to his glass. She did the same as G’raha, and then nursed her other one.

“Why do you insist on giving me this stuff?” Azlyn asked, more curious than anything else.

“Cuz yer expressions are comical.” He laughed at her expense. She gave him a disgusted look, as the taste left a weird sense in her mouth.

“Sahagins and the Serpent Reavers.” Ejika replied coolly. “They were in fact hiding in Sastasha. Good intuition Sir Baderon.”

The proprietor waved off his formality. “Drop the sir, ain’t no sir’s here.”

Azlyn started from the beginning, explaining about the hidden mechanical switch that opened up into the living quarters of the pirates—and even the open cove in the back of Sastasha Seagrot where they entered and exited.

“Fishbacks? An’ there I was thinkin’ ye’d only ‘ave to crack a pirate skull or three. Seven hells—Ye turn yer back fer five bloody minutes, an’ the scaly bastards’ve set up shop on yer bloody doorstep. Still it looks like ye left ‘em in pieces, so I don’t s’pose they’ll be carryin’ out whatever mischief they was plannin’.” Baderon took their empty glasses from them, and refilled them with water. Azlyn was most appreciative, drinking the water like it was her favorite drink in the world.

“Do you think they’ll be back?” G’raha asked.

Baderon frowned. “Might—but that’s what the Adventurer’s Guild is for. Now that we know what’s what, it can be handled appropriately in the future. Fer the time bein’ unless they was plannin’ on feedin’ ‘emselves to the fauna o’ Sastasha we prob’ly won’t see ‘em fer awhile. All’s well that ends well.”

Krile rolled her head slowly. “You mentioned the Adventurer’s Guild. Is that something that Azlyn might be interested in joining?”

Baderon seemed taken aback by the question. Then he had one of those lightbulb moments where an idea popped into his head. “Ye know what—that wouldn’t be a bad idea. Azlyn, see those two folks by the innkeep? You should talk with them about joinin’. Ye’ll get offers fer more jobs and explorin’ more places with their network on yer side. Ye seem up ta the task.” He winked at her. “Anyroad, on behalf of Limsa, I thank ye fer sheddin’ some light on this mystery. Ye’ve lived up to yer reputation, an’ I couldn’t ask fer no more’n that.”

Azlyn nodded, grateful for the vote of confidence. “You mentioned before about my clothes from before? Were you able to do something about them?”

Baderon smiled. “Thought ye’d never ask. I had the mender of the Adventurer’s Guild mend yer clothes. If we pay a certain bit o’ coin, they’ll fix yer clothes back good as new—or similar to what it was before. They’re layin’ up in yer room. I’ll bet yer dyin’ fer a rest.”

Ejika paid for the round of drinks this time around. G’raha smiled to Baderon. “Thanks for everything—the drinks are slowly winning me over.”

Baderon laughed. “Yer too young to be drinkin’. Now unless yer not tired an’ want another job. It just so ‘appens I’ve ‘ad a request from our sister guild in Gridania. Seems the forest folk’re in need of a ‘venturer what can get things done. And fer them to ask fer ‘elp like this, ye can bet the task won’t be no skip in the sunny glade. But after the way ye dealt with our fishback infestation, I doubt it’s anythin’ ye can’t ‘andle.”

Azlyn shooked her head, the wave of exhaustion already upon her shoulders. “I’m taking a well-deserved rest tonight—but I’ll definitely hit you up tomorrow for more information.”

Baderon waved at her retreating form. “Aye, aye—don’t forget to sign yerself up to the ‘venturer’s Guild! Ye ‘ear!”

“I’m going to clean up.” Krile said, making her way up to the inns first to bath.

“I should go buy some ingredients for dinner.” G’raha said, looking to the direction of the Crow’s Lift. “Want anything in specific it eat?”

Azlyn thought about his question. “I haven’t had mushrooms in a bit. That sounds pretty good.”

Ejika thought about the ingredient suggested. “Might be good to get some chicken or broth to simmer with it.”

G’raha pointed his finger in an approving way to the Lalafell. “Good suggestion, alright then I’ll be back. Ejika, you coming with me or heading up to the room?”

The scholar male frowned. “I’ll go read in the room after I clean up.”

Azlyn smiled to the two, “Alright, I’ll go talk with the those people dealing with the Adventurer’s Guild and meet up with you all upstairs?”

G’raha grinned. “Sounds like a date. See you all shortly.” He waved goodbye, running out to the upper decks. Ejika excused himself shortly after, leaving the Au Ra to her own devices. With nothing else to do, she made her way to the two Baderon pointed out. They had another person talking with them in their tight knit circle.

“Good evening—are you affiliated with the Adventurer’s Guild?” She asked them.

“Ah—Might you be the Bloody Princess who accepted the job of investigating Sastasha?”

Azlyn nodded, “I guess so.”

The man sighed. “Hmph, it would seem that ship had not only sailed, but now returns to harbor, none the worse for its voyage. A pity. We dragged our boots too long on this one. Oh, my name’s Dolorous Bear. And what shall I call you Bloody Princess?”

She forced a smile. “Just Azlyn is fine—I’d appreciate the lack of title if possible.”

He shook off her displeasure with a huge smile of his own. Dolorous Bear nudged his partner next to him. “Did you hear that E’mafana, her name is Azlyn the Bloody Princess of the Sea!”

The one known as E’mafana gave an apologetic look to the Au Ra. “No matter. The wheel will turn and our chance will come.”

“You are right, of course. But there shall be no rest till we have attained our goal, lofty thought it may be!” Dolorous Bear called out, his exuberance was infectious as the person next to him piped up.

“Not a wink of sleep, great leader!”

Azlyn nodded again. “What is this goal of yours? And does it require adventurers to help in this endeavor?”

Dolorous Bear smiled widely to her, expanding both of his large arms out to explain. He was very colorful with his explanation. “Our aim, lest you wonder, is to perform feats of heroism as well as earn us a place in the songs of every alehouse in Eorzea. We mean to write a legend which will inspire adventurers as yet unborn to follow our shining example.” He turned to her now, with a question of his own. “Do you have such a goal? Large or small, it matters not. Only have a star to reach for and you will reach higher.”

Azlyn smiled. “I do have a goal in mind—I suppose if you would like a hand in these ideals, I wouldn’t mind adding my tales to your vast amount of adventurers.”

Dolorous Bear nodded enthusiastically. “That’s what I like to hear! E’mafana make sure to add the Bloody Princess’s name to our roster of advanturers to sing tales of!”

E’mafana pulled out a notebook of hers, and jotted Azlyn’s name down. She still gave the Au Ra a piteous look.

“Purpose can sustain you through times of hardship. Keep your eye on the prize, and all obstacles will be overcome in time. You would not think to stride into battle unclad, would you? Well, goals are as arms and armor for the spirit! I wish you fortune in your endeavors, Azlyn the Bloody Princess of the Sea!”

This was the time she excused herself abruptly, hoping his boisterous voice wouldn’t draw more attention over to her and to her bloodied clothes. She was going to have to accept it now, as the nickname was something that would probably not stop, even if she wished it to. She ran over to the inn keeper, asking for the bathhouse key to take a shower. She was granted immediate access and hoped the smell of blood wouldn’t remain in her hair.

Her time bathing felt like an eternity, as she soaked in the hot water and felt the day’s exhaustion wash out from her. She could see the faint lines of scars from the cuts that had been healed that day, given time they would fade into nothing. Azlyn wrapped her arms around her knees, tucking them up to her chest as she thought how this would be her life from then on. Should she continue to throw herself into further hurdles of danger—and the answer was as clear as day to her. She remembered her parents, how oft they worked to ensure the peace of people who were not of kin. She thought back to the Battle of Carteneau, and all the strange visions she had of the place. How the Ascians seemed to have a role in the Calamity that ensued shortly thereafter. She was already far too deep into the ordeal, and decided that she needed to see it through to the bitter end.

Even if it meant being alone. She lowered her eyes, thinking of her home back on Val, and of her friends and family. There was only so much a person can do—but Azlyn determined that she’d do everything she could to ensure the peace her parents desperately tried to save.

She finished up in the bath, throwing out her cowl and wrapping herself up in a towel to walk back to her room. She hoped Baderon’s words were true about her previous clothes being mended. Walking inside her room, she found her clothes folded elegantly, with a note on top of it.

She read the note aloud. “If you’re ever in need of outfit mending, please come find me by the Innkeeper. I shall be happy to help a friend of Baderon’s. For a cost of course.” The note had been signed by the mender, and that was it. Azlyn tucked the note away on her desk for future reference. Perhaps it would be something to consider since her clothes were always ripping and tearing.

Inspecting her clothes she bought in Moraby Drydocks, she was pleased to see how well the mending worked. The ripped top of the shoulder into the back had been marvelously restored. The blood stains had also been removed, making it much more likely for her to go back to this mender. She quickly dressed up, her breast armor clinked into place as her turtle neck blouse comfortably formed around her. It was as if it had never been torn before.

She admired the clothes in the mirror before a sturdy knock alerted her to company. “It’s open!” Azlyn called, stepping away from the mirror. She was undoing the armor straps so she could just wear the turtle neck blouse and cloth leggings.

Krile entered, with Ejika holding his books in his hands. The lalafell looked a bit torn as she walked over to the desk. She sat with a sigh, tapping the top of the wood.

“What’s wrong?” Azlyn asked, walking over to them. She leaned back against the bed frame to get comfortable.

“My father called for us to go back home tomorrow. It seems there is an influx of activity in Thanalan that we must needs address to post-haste.” Krile replied.

Ejika brightened. “We can go home!”

Krile nodded. “Yes, but we still need to decide if Azlyn is well and whole before we leave. My father said to take her back if we as a group decided she wasn’t.”

Azlyn frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. “Do you think that to be necessary to do?”

Ejika shook his head. “I think she’s fine—she handled the stress of an unknown enmity from all around. She has my vote of confidence.”

Krile smiled, and beckoned to Azlyn to lean down for her to touch her forehead. Her hand felt cool against her forehead. “You have a tiny fever, but I think you’ll be running hot for the rest of your life. Just being frank. However, G’raha isn’t here to offer his opinion on this matter.”

Azlyn sighed in relief. “He went to grab some ingredients for dinner tonight.” She leaned back once more into a standing posture. “I feel fine though, a bit tired but that shouldn’t be out of the ordinary for how extensively we worked.”

“I agree.” Krile nodded. “I suppose then, if G’raha has no objections this will be our last night as a team before we have to go home. You better remember to write home once a week. The moogle delivery is still operational in Eorzea.”

“I wouldn’t dare stop writing. I’ll also come home for the holidays. I promise.” Azlyn crossed her ankles as she stood.

Ejika nodded. He opened his book with a blissful expression—one she hadn’t seen the entire time they had been out there. She supposed it was because they were finally going back home.

About thirty minutes later G’raha had arrived. He had bought several ingredients and a hot plate to cook on. As the room didn’t have a kitchenette to work with, he needed to find some means of cooking. “Alright, whose ready for some chicken, broccoli, mushroom, and potato entrees.” He pulled out a set of kitchen knives and a sharpening board. As he sat, he worked on sharpening the blades. “Those who work get to eat, so Ejika you better start helping.”

The lalafell seemed offended at the mention of helping cook, but begrudged as he was, he still went to prepare the veggies.

Krile chuckled. “I suppose I can work on the potatoes. Azlyn, can you cut the chicken into diced pieces and sauté them in the pot?”

Azlyn jumped to the task, reaching into the bags to find the chicken and whatever other seasonings G’raha had bought for the meal. The Miqo’te finished sharpening one set, handing each of them a knife to work with in their tasks. By the time everything was prepped, Azlyn had already started to sauté the chicken in a nice warm bone broth. They threw the ingredients into the batch, and before long they had four piping hot plates of chicken, broccoli, mushroom, and potato soup.

“Thank you for this meal.” Azlyn replied, clapping her hands over the dish.

Each person had their own way to thank or pray over the food. This happened to be Azlyn’s. A cherished memory from her parents long ago. A tradition that she wanted to keep even when she was alone. The four of them were sitting at the table together, eating and dipping pieces of bread into the batch of soup. They enjoyed the different flavors and could taste the smoky undertones of the chicken.

“G’raha, how do you think Azlyn will fare on her own?” Ejika asked after several bites into his meal.

The Miqo’te gave him a raised eyebrow. “Fine I guess. She seemed to handle everything today without collapsing.”

Krile smiled, “Then we’re in accordance.”

“For what?” He asked, pulling his legs up to sit cross-legged on the chair. His tail swung behind him.

“Archon Baldesion requested you three to head back when you were out shopping Raha. I wasn’t going to head back—so that’s why.” Azlyn explained, picking a piece of bread off from the center plate.

G’raha frowned. “Oh. I guess I assumed we had a couple more days.” He seemed a bit down as he pouted. 

Azlyn waved her hands in front of her. “But we still have this evening! Let’s enjoy our time together and then I’ll see you off in the morning!”

Ejika approved. “I will be reading, but you three can enjoy whatever hanging out you wish to do.”

Krile scoffed. “You can’t just read and hang out at the same time?”

“I don’t want to.” Ejika retorted, crossing his arms. “I’d much prefer to read than hang out.”

G’raha waved his spoon in the air. “I’m going to take that as an offense.”

“So? Do I care?” Ejika replied, finishing the last of his meal. “And that’s that. Good night. I’ll be waiting for you down below tomorrow.” He left abruptly, leaving the room with a thick tension. 

Krile shook her head. “Sometimes I just want to strangle him.”

Azlyn sighed, “He hasn’t changed much—thought he might have had a change of heart, but nope.”

G’raha scowled at the door he left through. “I hope he gets the runs.”

“He’s not going to change—and I think he cares somewhat. His priorities are a bit—off though.” Azlyn tried to save him some face but the other two shot that down.

“No, he’s a prick.” G’raha replied dully. “I know history will still be there to study—he acts like his research is going to just explode.” 

“Priorities—I suppose you could say that.” Krile sighed, shaking her head again.

Azlyn laid her spoon down by her bowl. “Alright, so what would you two like to do? Any places you would like to see? Explore?”

Krile smiled, “I’m a bit tired from running around, but I wouldn’t mind a few games of Triple Triad.”

G’raha snapped his fingers excitedly. “I brought some of the cards! Oh, I also have a few puzzles and brain teasers we can try to solve.” He jumped from the chair, only for Azlyn to catch him by his shirt. He paused looking down at her. “What?”

She chuckled. “Finish eating the food you bought before that.”

He plopped down, eating as fast as he could. Krile and Azlyn were still enjoying their soup by the time G’raha had finished, leaving them to go get his belongings in the room he shared with Ejika. He rushed back with his satchel filled with his fun activities.

“Okay, what first? A Triple Triad Tournament or some fun brain teasers!?”

Azlyn pointed to the Triple Triad Board. “Can’t go wrong with cards.”

Krile helped clear the table, while G’raha went to soak the bowls in a large water basin out in the balcony. Azlyn started to store what little leftovers remained, packing them in small containers for their lunch tomorrow. When everything was done, they played games well into the night—and after working through several complicated puzzles, they all passed out curled up in the pillows and blankets they laid out on the floor. Like a long overdue sleepover, the trio slept peacefully like they did in days past as children. G’raha’s hand had been outstretched to Azlyn’s, holding her hand within his own. Krile was wrapped up in the blankets in a cocoon.

It was moments like this that Azlyn cherished the most. The fleeting times she spent with her cherished ones, and despite the bright morning wake up call from a cheery Ejika in their linkpearls, they said their goodbyes with a smile.

Krile went to gather her stuff out from her room. G’raha remained behind as he helped Azlyn put back all the bedding they placed on the floor.

“You promise to write me?” He asked her.

Azlyn turned to him, with a knowing smile. “I’ve been pretty good these past five years, haven’t I?”

He nodded. “Alright, then I won’t feel bad leaving you by yourself.” He reached out his hand to twirl a curl by her shoulder. “Take care, I don’t want to be called over because you’ve overworked yourself.”

“I promise Raha. I know you’re busy working as their historian—and you also have you’re own personal research involved.”

G’raha grinned, a soft expression on his face. “I’ll let you know if I discover anything new and fascinating to discuss in lengthy detail.” He leaned in, his lips just gracing the top of her forehead. “For good luck.” G’raha stopped before giving her a quizzical expression. “You’re a bit warmer than usual.” He reached both of his hands to the sides of her faces. He took another step toward her. 

She laughed at him, her cheeks blushing from the sudden physical contact. “I wonder what your admirers would think if they saw you kissing another girl.”

He scoffed at her, cupping both sides of her face. “I told you before, I don’t care what they think.” G’raha stopped short, staring down at her. 

“What does this mean?” She finally asked, looking at his conflicted expression. She remembered it from when she left five years prior. She let one of her hands trail up to his cheek, and relaxed in his arms. 

“It means—“ He stopped long enough to sigh, he stepped back from her with an equally confused expression. “The next we meet hopefully when my own research is complete, I’ll tell you what’s on my mind. I’ll tell you everything. Until then—be safe.”  G’raha left her alone in her room. The soft click of the door shutting allowed her a moment to breathe, as she had been holding her breath. Deciding it best to clean the remainder of the room. It was an easy task to tidy, as she also gathered her belongings together.

She raced downstairs, reaching the three before they teleported back home.”See you soon!” She called to them as they blinked away in aetheric energy.