Personnage

Alright, I've taken a break, eaten a couple of snacks, and now, I'm ready to tell the rest of this tale. Where were we... ah, yes. Lahabrea.

Naturally, he had to show up when we least expected it - when we thought we had won.

"Fools! The real power of the Ultima Weapon lies within its now beating heart. The magic inside has been dormant for eons... a spell without parallel. Ultima!"

Responding to the Ascian's words, the automaton glowed with a blinding light that grew and grew until we could see nothing but white.

There was an explosion the likes of which I'd never heard before. When my eyes regained sight, all I could see was destruction - the fortress around us had been blasted to rubble. Around us, there was nothing but a ring of fire.

Somehow, my allies and myself were still standing. Hydaelyn had protected us, but it was doubtful that she would be able to shield us from another blast. We were at Lahabrea's mercy.

Or so he thought. Faintly, in the back of my mind, I heard the Mothercrystal's voice.

"If thou would pierce the shadows, make thee a staff of light..."

"Destroy the machina!" I called to my comrades. "The Ascian is mine!"

I can't say how or why, but I knew it was time for me to do what I was destined to do. On instinct, I exhaled and closed my eyes.

When I opened them, I was floating in the void where Hydaelyn dwells. Lahabrea was there too, his dark silhouette suspended before me.



This was exactly like the very first vision the Echo had brought to me - that's how I knew what I had to do. The Crystals of Light suddenly surrounded me, their power concentrating in my hands in the form of a staff of pure light. I struck Lahabrea with all the power, all the rage, all the hope I had left.

I next came back to my senses, and instantly wished I hadn't - my whole body was hurting, my skin, my bones and everything in between. Gaius and my comrades had evacuated the scene, leaving behind the caved in carcass of the Ultima Weapon. I was lying on the ground in the ring of fire, next to Lahabrea.

Except it wasn't the Ascian, not anymore - the red symbol covering his face was gone, and all was left was Thancred, pale and motionless. For a moment, I feared the worst, but soon, I noticed his chest rise and fall weakly. He was still breathing!

"Maybe not for long", I thought, alarmed. Around us, the ruins of the fortress were collapsing on themselves, and the flames were growing taller by the minute. Soon, we would be trapped.

I got up with the utmost difficulty and tried to lift Thancred, but he was simply too heavy for me. Smoke from the fire grated my lungs until I collapsed back to the ground, coughing. Black spots started to crowd my vision and I felt myself slip away.

I felt a strange sense of peace amidst the pain. We had succeeded. I had executed my task. I could go now, and rest, finally, forever in the light of the Crystal.

But then I thought of my family and all the people I had met this last year - Sylphie, the Scions, Isel, Painted Mesa, Jospaire... Jospaire, to whom I had promised I would come back.

Couldn't I live for them? Couldn't I live... for myself?

"Help", I managed to say weakly. "Someone... get us out of here... Y'shtola... Cid... Haurchefant..."

I coughed some more.

"Please, anyone... Amalthea... Akoman."

I stayed conscious only long enough to see a yellow shape materialize somewhere up high. Then, darkness finally claimed me.

It kept me for a very long time.

But eventually, I did emerge. Above me, again, was the color yellow - it took me a while to understand that I was staring at the roof of a Twin Adder military tent.

Someone came to my side - Minfilia! She seemed very pleased to see that I was awake.

"We were somewhat surprised", she said, "when an ahriman came out of the ruined fortress with Thancred on its head. We thought it was one of the Ascian's tricks... until the creature opened its mouth, unrolled its tongue and placed you on the ground."

"...I was in Akoman's mouth?"

Minfilia laughed - a wonderful sound, full of music and freedom. In her demeanor alone, I could tell that a great shadow had been lifted from her mind.

"Indeed. Maybe he was shielding you from the fire. Or maybe he had a mind to eat you but decided otherwise. Who knows?"

Soon after, I received word that my presence was expected at a very important ceremony. Painted Mesa (who of course insisted on being by my side the whole time) placed me on his shoulder and took me to a hill near a lake I recognized - Lake Silvertear.

I was elated to see that the Archons were all there, as well as the leaders of the three City-States: Admiral Merlwyb, General Raubahn and Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna. They spoke of how through sheer willpower and courage, Eorzeans had managed to unite themselves against the Empire.

"True to their name, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, along with our champion, have delivered us from darkness. Let it be writ that on that day, by the light of the Crystal... Eorzea ushered in a new era! The seventh astral era is come!

And thus is ours... a realm reborn!"

Everyone cheered, and soon, I found myself cheering too, swept away by the wave of unadulterated joy that washed over the crowd. The dawn of a new era... I never thought I would live to see such a thing, and much less help bring it into existence.

What's more, I survived doing so. I wasn't expecting to. I'll admit I feel a little lost right now! I wonder what lies ahead for me, now that this destiny of mine has been fulfilled.

Had I perished in the Praetorium, things would have been so much more simple: I would have been the Chosen One who sacrificed himself to save the world. A simple tale, for simple times.

But that day on that hill, I looked at my friends, my heart swelling with love and pride, and raised my eyes to the heavens. My smile felt as bright as the sunlit skies above.



For these these are not simple times. I am still here. I still have a place in this realm.

And a story to tell.