the first meeting

[dalmascanecrol]

[ It almost seemed the Primal had beckoned them. Alphinaud, Papalymo, Yda and Urianger had come to investigate Alexander, and there had been a large open passage. They'd all entered together, and there was a city. After a bit of navigation, though...

...there was a Primal standing in the center of the town. Well, it looked like a Primal to all those who could see it, the four who presented themselves inside. They looked like a being of pure Light, eying the four.

But it seems they won't make the first move. Not yet. ]

Comments

[icywarmth]

...Then we shall go, just you and I?

Wait-- you're gonna go like that? [ Nymeia asks. ] Not gonna bring Belias for protection--

--No. My friend is an enemy to most. Just as I am.

[readypunch]

I think between the two of us, we'll be okay! We'll look after each other.

[icywarmth]

We will. After all... I won't let another destroyer of worlds hurt her.

---

[ It took a few days for them to arrive in the caverns lined with rainbow crystals where Igeyorhms' friend rested. And yet... it felt so much quicker, with the friendly Ascian gushing about the harpy. Gushing about her differences from a Hyur. And only once asking about her mask before dropping it.

But her cheer seems to fade as they get to the cavern. ] Step carefully - my friend hasn't had visitors for a while.

[readypunch]

[She's honestly glad for the chance to talk about the differences- it makes her feel appreciated! And- se's glad Igeyorhm doesn't push too much- she's a good companion, along the way.

Yda nods, taking a close look at the path.]

Okay. This place does seem pretty remote. I- they won't mind that we're coming, right?

[icywarmth]

...He trusts me, at least. And as long as you're not Ivalician - of either sort - I think it'll be fine.

[ The crystal feels a little weird to walk on. Warm. But she's so gentle as she steps across it. ] We met soon after I adjusted to being Hyur.

[readypunch]

Well- I'm definitely not that. I think so!

[Huh. But Yda treads carefully- stooping for a moment to confirm for herself that it is warm.] Oh! Was it weird, adjusting? And- well, how did you meet?

[icywarmth]

I heard of this cavern that the Warrior of Light couldn't pass though. [ There's a smirk! of course the ascian still want to prove themselves stronger. ] I went to explore - though I couldn't teleport straight in. And I met him - the one we're heading for. He told me his story. Of how he destroyed his home by mistake.

[readypunch]

Well- that's pretty unusual! I'd wonder about it, too- especially if you couldn't teleport. [she gives a shocked sound.]. He- destroyed it- that's got to be awful, even if it wasn't a mistake. Can I ask you, or should I wait?

[icywarmth]

...We're there, so I think he'll have a chance to explain.

[ They are. They're at the end, and a man with white-blond hair and a large black cape is sitting there. Still. Crystal shards in his hair. A mess.

But he is silent. Igeyorhm moves closer, quietly. ]

I've brought Auracite. This one has something inside it. And an ally - she's from this iteration.

[readypunch]

Oh!

[She peers at him curiously- worrying, a little, with all those shard in his hair.]

We don't know what, exactly- and we'd like to find out. I mean- I'm not from this reflection exactly! But home's close enough.

[dynast_king]

[ There's a silence. Until a voice breaks though - it sounds too young, as if it's just gotten though puberty. ]

...Maybe this stone will be the one.

[readypunch]

[…oh no oh shit. If they're this young- should they really?]

Uh. Maybe! But, I mean- are you sure? How- what do you know about these?

[dynast_king]

Auracite is a prison made by the Occuria. The same stuff which grows on my body. I deserve to take it back.

[readypunch]

…oh. So, you're, um. Kind of intimately familiar with it, then. Does it… do anything to you?

[dynast_king]

...Maybe it'll finally end me. [ He says so casually. ] My body keeps trying to become the new Sun-Cryst - that's what made all these rocks.

[readypunch]

The Sun-Cryst- and that makes more Auracite? I don't know what's in this stone, but if you're willing…

[she'll hold the stone out to him.]

[dynast_king]

...Long ago, when Ivalice was around, I wanted revenge on the Archadian Empire. It-- it had taken my home, and my brother from me. The Gods gave me another sort of stone - Nethicite. It doesn't hold a soul like this rock.

It holds Mist. Magick. And when it's exploded? It destroys everything.

[ Seems Vaan is explaining, as he takes the stone. His hands... he's still a young adult, fingers having crystal scattered though them. ]

[readypunch]

So they're no good for people, either.

[she hisses.]. So- that's what happened, then. But- the magic was able to go that far?

[not a story she likes. She touches his fingers gently- worrying.]. …were you at the centre of it? Is that why… this happened to you?

[dynast_king]

...Gerun still holds me. [ Vaan then whispers. ] That's why I'm changing. [ But he seems to smile at the touch. ]

I detonated it in their capital city. But it spread further then it should. That's not when Ivalice died, though. There was time for me to see what I did - in th'eyes of my former friends.

[readypunch]

Gerun? A- person? Or a place? [she'll keep holding on, then, fingers brushing against him.]

The capital… the heart of their power, huh. No? They saw- the results of that. Of… the world crystallising?

[dynast_king]

A person. Well, Occuria aren't people, are they? They're above us.

[ His voice is going quiet, and Igeyorhm knows the Esper is taking his body. Will it finally end him...? ] The world didn't crystallize, that's just me. No, it just-- everything was dead. Twisted. Everything was dead and gone...

[readypunch]

They're… I dunno, I guess- if they're like Deities. But some of the people here are good…

[she holds onto him, still, reaching out.]. So it made it somewhere nothing could live. That… it sounds awful.

[dynast_king]

...Gods-- Deity are never good.

[ oh, Vaan. ] It was. It was after I-- after it happened that my mind cleared.

[readypunch]

I dunno. The ones we met when we came here- they were pretty nice.

When you saw what had happened…. You don't think- they influenced you?

[dynast_king]

I kept seeing my brother. Asking me to seek revenge for-- all of this. Maybe now I can repent... letting that spirit in the Stone have the rest of my life.