Spoilers for End of 5.0-takes place 5.1-2 ish.
((This is finally digging into a bit more of Karo’s backstory. I really took my time with this one, and am very proud of it. Hope you enjoy!))
The Twelveswood felt different. That was the only way Karoiseka could describe it. The First was saved, and she was back on the Source again, giving an update to the Scions still here, but had felt a pull to the woods just to the South of Camp Tranquil. The forest giants of years past had given way to a younger growth bordering Thanalan, the warm air from the desert colliding with the cool shade under the trees. She could feel Ardbert's curiosity at what they were doing there, paired with her own. The paths she had walked most of her life held an extra forgotten meaning that was clawing its way back into her memories. This wasn't just a hunting trail, like so many others, there--beneath the tall oak--she could remember her first hunting kill with her new larger bow, a gift from--
There was almost a physical pain as the forgotten memory surfaced, almost an Echo manifestation, and she could see a snapshot of the moment, Seirlait--her Da--proudly standing nearby. Her heart ached as she saw his face in her mind as clear as it had been that day. As clear as it had been when she had waved good-bye to them-both her fathers- a smile on her face as they headed out to help with the preparations for the clash at Carteneau as she stayed to look after the cabin. How? How had she forgotten them? Da and Pa both, the memories assailing her senses as feet tore along the trail heading to a destination her mind had not reconciled yet.
There- that tree had been so good for climbing.
The little stream that held such wonders to the small child she once was.
That clearing holding the best herbs for the evening stew to be cooked over the fire.
Tiny fingers weaving a flower crown, placing it triumphantly on Feophaux's (Pa’s) head.
The boughs of a willow creating a curtain to play hide and seek in--learning more skills from both her fathers.
The perfect reading nook nestled high in the treetops with just enough light.
Eyes unseeing of the present, Karo lived in the flashbacks of her past as every step closer to- closer to home. The word burned in her mind as a beacon, blinding her to all else. Was this what she had been seeking all these years? Wasn't that the Rising Stones? Hadn’t she found her other home in the Crystal Tower on the First? She vaguely remembered in her unforgotten recollections the Highlander and Duskwight, eyes full of grief as they watched her escape the cabin that she had lived in after the Calamity--and before she now knew again. The pain in their voices as they pleaded with her to remember them, and the anguish when she told them to stop calling her their daughter. She left shortly after, headed to Gridania to find her own way, adrift with scant more than the short bow she had been teaching-reteaching-herself to use, and a small pack.
The Calamity. It had to have been the catalyst of the memory loss, for she could see clearly now that nothing but muscle memory and a vague sense of what felt right were all that had remained from before that fateful day. Now she wondered what had changed again, even as the sheepish feeling from Ardbert guided her to an answer. The shock of living through the initial seventh rejoining of souls must have triggered the amnesia in the first place, her mind blocking the trauma of the moment. The acceptance and welcoming of Ardbert's soul to her own had healed all those splintered parts, even those that were unknown to her to begin with. It had taken time to come back to her, and a slightly longer stay on the Source than she had taken in a long while, but now that the trickle had started, the dam was broken--her mind filled with all that she had forgotten. Ardbert ensured that they didn't stumble through the frantic rush she made down the trail--not caring about the tracks she was leaving in her wake.
Malms later, her feet stopped and past and present collided as her eyes saw again. The small cabin was sealed tight against the elements, and the overgrowth in the garden and clearing spoke of no one having tended to them for at least two years. The Bard fell to her knees, a low keening sound filling the air--she vaguely recognized it as her own voice, grief overwhelming her. The run, much less the mental exertion, had taken a huge chuck of energy from her, and Karo wept, broken at the sight of her childhood home--empty.
As the sun crawled across the sky, Karo slowly took in the details of the clearing. Not much had changed in the years since she had left. The garden was overgrown, but the perennial plants fought for their place among the weeds. The archery targets were still affixed to the surrounding trees, all at different heights, some now hidden from the growth. Bluebells covered the small meadow, and she remembered stubbornly throwing the seeds all over instead of planting them in neat rows in the flowerbeds because they were her favorite and she couldn't see the flowerbeds from her bedroom window. Looking carefully, finally pacing forward on shaking legs, Karo noticed that the cabin was carefully secured--just as it had been every time they had left for their summer journey. The only thing that concerned her was that it looked as if they hadn't been back in at least one winter--maybe even two or three--not even passing through during the warmer months.
Digging into her newfound memories, she spun and headed to the tree that was surrounded by the most bluebells. The archery target there was still attached to one of the lower branches, but the Bard still had to climb a bit to reach it. Fiddling with the back of it, the small compartment made itself known, and the prize ended up in her nimble fingers. The front door key. Jumping down, she forced herself to walk fully around the house, checking for any breaches that could mean that the house wasn’t secure, or that someone or something, was residing within. Not finding even so much as something that would let a draft in, she braced herself and headed to the door.
The key slid into the lock, and only needed a slight bit of jiggling to get it to turn, the door itself stiff from disuse and the hinges creaking with the rust buildup. Karo was hit with the sweet smell of dried lavender, vanilla, and sweet cedar; all the smells she remembered that hearkened to what home meant. The curtains being drawn left the main room in shadows, the light from the doorway streaming into the air laden with the dust she had kicked up by entering. The cabin was one main room split with partitions into areas for cooking, dining, and leisure. There was a bedroom for her fathers off to one side, and a small bathing chamber on the other. The tiny loft above the bath area had been hers to claim, curtains creating a small wall for her privacy.
Leaving the door open for the light, and to air the place out a bit, Karo started to open the curtains to let in more natural light before she looked around for any clues to where Seirlait and Feophaux had disappeared to. Absentmindedly, she headed to the kitchen sink, and ran the tap for a few moments, letting the components loosen up and water to come back through the pipes since it had obviously been a while. Grabbing a rag, she wet it with the first bit of water that came through, and wiped down the counters, removing the thin layer of dust that had gathered. A quick peek at the pantry showed that beyond some items that kept for seasons, naught had been left. That was normal enough, so she continued on to the all-purpose room. The large fireplace on one end was one of two in the house that provided most of the heat in the winter, as well as some basic charms. The wall was lined with books of all types, and one of the racks of shelves was full of supplies for writing, and hooks for instruments that had obviously gone wherever their owners were.
Karo’s attention was pulled to her left, for there, lying on the table near the fireplace, was a folded piece of paper, her full name carefully written across it. Hands shaking, she picked it up carefully, blowing dust off of it as she broke the seal on the back and started to read.
Dearest Karoiseka,
If you’re reading this, it means, we hope, that you have found your way back home and that beyond our wildest dreams that you have finally remembered all that occurred prior to Carteneau.
After you left, we continued on best we could, despite missing you dearly. We know that we had spent a long time at Carteneau helping to clean up and transport people all over Eorzea, but we had not anticipated you not remembering us at all or anything from your childhood.
Some time after you left, at least a year, we started hearing your name out of Gridania--how you were a bit of a local legend as an adventurer. You had cleared out several dens of evil, and were becoming beloved by all that crossed your path. Incredulous, we followed any scrap of information we could get, hearing about the Scion, Primals, and Garlean forces and your role in taking them down only made us fear for your safety.
Then came the accusations from Ul’dah. None of which could be true. Word of you dropped off except for hushed whispers, before rushing back in a whirlwind of fantastical stories of you bringing the Dragonsong War to an end in Ishgard. We even made the trek to Mor Dhona hoping to catch a glimpse of you, but left before we did--partially because we feared you still wouldn’t recognize us. We heard that you were part of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn there, and even talked with an Ironworks engineer who said he had worked with you before. Knowing you were safe among friends eased our hearts for a bit as we headed home.
Another year passed and the uprisings in Ala Mhigo are now all that the city-states are talking about. The Scions are said to be helping with the organization and negotiations , so we have decided to pack up for this year and help. I know not if we shall cross paths while there, or if you will ever see this, but we must do what we can to help. Not only for those that live there, but for you as well. Knowing that we can hopefully take even a little of the burden off of your shoulders is all that we can hope to do.
We love you, and miss you, and pray that you stay safe and healthy through it all.
~Da an Pa
A hot tear splashed onto the paper in her hands as Karo put together the timeframe that they had been gone. They hadn't yet returned from the liberation of Ala Mhigo--and they had left near the beginning of the conflict, well over two years ago. Considering they had taken almost five years to return from Carteneau, she shouldn't be much surprised. They were probably helping courier refugees back home, and the wounded to the respective city-states. She paced the length of the room, worrying for their safety throughout the conflict as well. It had been extremely wide-spread with the Garlemald forces targeting anything and anybody they even thought were helping the Resistance. She had seen it time and time again from the small villages and hamlets throughout the region in the aftermath as she tried to ease her own guilt from not being there for them and tried to help with the smallest of tasks from anyone who asked. She knew logically she could only be in one place at a time, and that the forces she had been helping were the same. If they hadn’t done what they had, there was a chance the country would still be occupied even now..
Had she seen them though? Walked right by with unseeing eyes? Had they greeted her, only to get her strained public smile in return and a generic platitude--all that she could muster? Had she passed by their graves not knowing who lay there? She had talked to so many people all over the broken country, her mind raced, but all the faces were a blur. She had spent plenty of time in Doma as well, not counting for all the travel back and forth, during that time-paths may have crossed, or may have been missed without even the chance of happening.
Karo wasn’t sure how many times she re-read the pages, and wasn’t fully aware that she had curled up in the large armchair until the evening light hit her eyes streaming in from the still open door. Blinking blearily, she stood and lit a couple of the candles to provide some light in the growing dark. The house had electricity, however, she didn’t feel like finding and turning on the generator quite yet. She closed the door, and got a glass of water from the tap, scrounging for some trail rations that were still in her pack from earlier. The Bard didn’t remember relinquishing her bow and pack at the door, but old habits die hard, and they were neatly hung by the door on the pegs meant for that very purpose.
Tucking the letter safely in her bag she cleaned up the small mess she had made and went to the washroom to clean her face of the salt-crusted tears that had dried there. Not a thing had changed, towels and soap stored neatly away in the same places they always had been. The vase on the sink, usually filled with wildflowers picked during the day, was empty for the time--and she longed to fill it and keep the room cheery, but knew not how long she would be there herself. Responsibilities still loomed both here and on the First, her comrades bodies still laying still in the Dawn’s Respite.
As she climbed up to her loft, not much had changed since she had last been up here. When her memories had first escaped her, she had stayed down in the main bedroom, not realizing that it wasn’t her’s. The loft she had never quite gone up the ladder-like stairs, and so it remained very similar to when she last called it her own. The bed was made, but with an additional sheet covering it all to keep the dust off, ready to be used at a moment’s notice. The hope that lived in her parent’s hearts nearly broke her own, as she caved to exhaustion finally, Ardbert’s comforting presence allowing her to drift off to sleep when she thought it was the furthest thing from her mind.
On the morrow, Karo would write her reply and leave it where she had found her own letter, secure the cabin once more and return the key to it's hiding place. She wouldn't forget again now that her soul was healed, yet her obligations would keep her busy, she knew. When she had time, she would ask her various contacts, hoping beyond hope that someone has news, and if they didn't, that her note would be read, and that they would return once more to the Rising Stones, asking for her proudly by name.
Part 2 of the FFXIVWrite2019. This is one of my favorites actually. I found some screenshots to scatter in.
MAJOR 5.0 Endgame spoilers abound!!!
One more fight, that was what was promised to her. One more battle, one more “villian” to take down. One more Lightwarden and it would all be over. That was the bargain, wasn’t it?
Karoiseka’s footsteps echoed in her head as she placed one foot in front of the other. Why? Why was he gone? Why was she here, alone. She was barely aware of her surroundings, the Light streaming down through the crystal blue canopies above her. He said that he had wanted to ride the Endless Winds with her, to share in all of her adventures, so why--WHY?
The city around her continued on as it had before she had ever arrived. The Crystal Tower soaring above, almost mocking her pain. It was still standing, did that mean he was waiting for someone to come and rescue him? Waiting for her? Would the tower still stand without it’s beating heart, or would it crumble as she brought the Flood back to destroy everything?
She sunk to her knees as she braced herself against the large doorway out of the Musica Universalis. It was too much to see the glowing doors of the tower, knowing he wasn’t inside. The taunting words rang in her ears, remembering as he tried so very hard to turn them all against him--to make them happy he was saving her and leaving them all behind. Y’shtola saw right through it though, bringing them all to the truth of his sacrifice before he even got a chance to finish his incantation.
Karo knew why he had hid his identity from her--though her heart hurt all the more to think of his hood flying back, his ruby eyes trained on her. Those eyes that had followed her and only her through time and space she now knew. Those eyes that grew so wide with surprise, with happiness, and with more love than she knew how to handle as she called him by his name. The pain of the Light wracking her body almost inconsequential beside the sacrifice he was about to make. She remembered reaching for him as he smiled, then the shot that rang out and the look of shock and pain on his face--his eyes closing as he collapsed a handbreadth from her. That wasn’t part of the bargain. None of this was.
Knees ached as she pulled herself back up and started towards the next person that she was told wanted to talk to her. She didn’t really want to talk with anyone, but, she made her way slowly from one person to the next. Each spoke of hope, each not letting the Light ruin their outlook. How? How could they keep such a positive outlook when she was ticking time bomb in front of them? Yet, they didn’t know that, did they? She kept it to herself, letting them think she was “just” injured from the fight. They couldn’t know--should never know.
Trudging her way to the watchtower, she looked out as she made it to the top. She wasn’t surprised as Ardbert came to talk to her. His words finally penetrating the fog that had enveloped her since waking. The light between them shining brightly, finally giving her the glimmer of hope that she had needed so desperately since waking. Feo Ul’s words only spurned her into action, her steps slowly more steady as she asked about the Exarch--G’raha Tia--the man who had stolen her heart.
His ward and Captain let him into his inner chambers of the tower and Karoiseka felt weak all over again as she was left alone surrounded by his belongings, his books, his scent that permeated everything in the room and sent her into an Echo flashback. Hearing his voice again, hearing him explain to Urianger took her breath away, and as she came to, the Light coming to the edge of her skin as Ardbert calmed her. She didn’t want to leave the chamber, the smell of him lingering in the very air as if he had been there but a moment prior. Yet, he wasn’t, and she wasn’t sure if he ever would again.
Another deep breath, another close of her eyes, another promise made in her heart. She would bring him back one way or another. He would not be abandoned by her after all he had done for her. Her steps did not falter as she made her way to the Amaro Launch to get passage to hunt down the Ascien who had stolen her heart from her.
Soft footsteps behind her, and she was brought to tears once more as her dearest friends came to rally around her. She lifted Urianger’s bowed head, kissing his forehead before raising him to his feet. How could she not forgive him after all she had seen? Holding Alisaie close after her outburst, she reached out to squeeze Alphinaud’s shoulder.the moment he said they would come with her. How had she gained such family? Such dear connections? Aether about to fly out of her to destroy all of them, and one by one they pledged their love and support to her. Letting go of Alisaie, she took Y’shtola’s hands in her own, holding them to her lips, almost in tears before tugging at Thancred’s collar to bring him down low enough to kiss his cheek. Lastly she pulled Ryne into a hug, knowing how hard it was for the young girl to get swept up in the actions of those with so much more experience than herself.
All came to a head as the townsfolk gathered around them as they had their moment. The words they spoke, the support and spirit they had gave Karo the final push she needed to push forward, to alter the bargain made at the foot of Mt. Gulg. She would bring him back, and keep the promise she made to him. She would survive to fight again, to win the battles back on the Source that needed to be won, though this time she knew the entire agreement and was changing it to suit her desires. There was one more fight, one more villain, and this time, she would see it to it’s end and not let anyone else stop her.
