stirring the flames of war
There was nothing left but ash.
Cinders even still burned, a crater left in place for what was once one of the most elaborate restaurants in Kugane. The depths of the underground entertainment stage had been consumed in the flame just as well, leaving naught but a space that acted like a graveyard for the fallen that met their end on that fateful night. The force of the Sekiseigumi had been swift in answering the call of the fire – yet, it had been far too late. By the time any soul took witness to what had befallen the others, nothing remained but ash and bone.
A bouquet of flowers cradled upon her arms as she approached. Two guards – under the guise of Hingan mercenaries based tightly in their haori and sandals – walked at a distanced trail, keeping eye on those along the path as their mistress approached the vicinity and beheld the damage for the first time since her cohort’s escape. All was quiet in the surroundings – postings implanted around to keep others mindful of the danger of being on unstable ground. Yet, the unstable ground was black, hardened and void of any hint of life. A true display of destruction.
Ring, ring. Even in times of melancholy, her linkpearl never ceased.
“Lady Haillenarte, I do hope you know that you are being watched.”
Her heart galloped inside of her chest at the voice. As she stood in the blackened ground, her eyes narrowed at the sound, and her voice faded behind the weight of gravitas that sought to take hold of her figure. The other end chuckled, a masculine, ripe sound of amusement.
“No greeting for me? We were growing so close, I believed. We nearly perished together above the Basin, even. Or do you not remember me breaking an arm to protect you when the airship shifted?”
Intuition told her to say nothing. To simply listen as the husky voice of the Garlean Praefectus continued to speak – cruelty dripping from every onze of his tongue. Her eyes glared back over her shoulder, flitting from left to right to observe her surroundings and finding absolutely nothing but the graveyard of the dead.
“Lady Padma told me you were so much smarter than that. That you were focused upon the future. You held no care for either side of the war, you wanted to build something substantial for your family. I respected that. I respected you.”
As long as he were willing to speak, she knew. She would remain alive to hear it. The arms of the Elezen descended to place the flowers upon the grave site – her eyes glinting as something is seen in the midst of the crumbled ashes. With a stretch of her fingers, she picked up a piece of paper, observing the drawing on the edge. Aether bled off of the paper’s surface, magic interwoven within the sheets to protect it during the worst. Blood splatters layered across the image, dried prints covering the face of a little girl smiling. The Elezen hitched her breath, lifting the picture to her chest to embrace it while her face contorted in tearful regret.
“We would have been such wonderful partners, Lady Haillenarte. But, you’ve chosen your side, and I shall indeed protect mine. Continue to supply our enemies with Skysteel weaponry, and I will be unable to protect you, dear. You’d like to continue to explore the beautiful corners of Kugane, wouldn’t you? Tell me, are you even apologetic for what transpired under your watch? If it were me, I would’ve never allowed my people to act like such thugs.”
“Enough, Praefectus Valvus…” Her words are whispered out, standing, and turning quickly towards the edges of the pathway. Her footsteps echoed as she departed from the scene, the voice on the line chuckling to finally rouse a tone from the Ishgardian noble.
“Now she speaks. My dear, you have not seen nearly enough of what happens to those that displease me. Ah, but you will. You most certainly will.”
The steps have quickened to a run. Driving her as far from the place as possible, her hand ripped the linkpearl from her ear and cast it aside into the nearest river as soon as the opportunity rose. A new frequency and replacement would be the first on her list of priority, but after paying her respects, she knew to no longer embark on the shores of Kugane without adamant protection. Protection she required – hands who would not be afraid to strike and kill as need be.
“If it is war you wish for, Praefectus, it is war I shall give you.”
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