Khutula’s Resolve: The Last Witch
((Continues - after a long time - from Princess of Paper)) ((Soundtrack for this is I was Born for This)) ((Several Moons Ago))
From our sisters, I am the only one to never married to any man. I wouldn’t be able to bear the thought of a man touching me again. However, since we were all women, and all from the lineage of the chieftain, we were expected to become a Witch Chief, unless we married to someone at another tribe, which then the wisest of our tribe would be chosen. If there was a brother, he would be the leader. But... I am the one left. The last Witch of the Ugund.
My sister explains that they searched me far and beyond, without resting. They found father’s body near the Mol Iloh. And tracked me and then they lost my trail in a camp, they said, with bodies spread around. I can only imagine that it is where I was when Shintaro found me. They said that they never found me and thought I was dead.
Mother perish to the ultimate trial three months ago. I think that for so long I was away from home that I lost my connection to them.
The Naadam was won by the Mol, surprisingly. They had help from the so-called Warrior of Light, Lord Hien from Doma and adventurers from Eorzea. We took part as the ones to help the fallen make the passage, like we always do, days later, after I was placed as the Witch Chief. So I represented our tribe, for the first time as our leader and then I was summoned by the Oronir own leader to his room. Magnai was his name.
He asked me if I had any thoughts about having a partner, as this was the fate of all Xaela, to become like Azim and Nhaama. He was blunt, presuming that I would be in agreement with his statements. But Shintaro taught me to stand my ground and fight for my beliefs. I approached the tall man, and sensed his desperation to find his “Nhaama”. I answer him that I would never make someone like him happy, for I do not have thoughts dedicated to passion or caring, nor I am someone that would love anyone else again. He was angry and I became nervous. But in a harsh response to all of this, I delivered words that stumped the man.
“The only problem you have to find your woman is that you are never true to your heart. And in your desperation to appear better to your pairs, you ignore and push away any chance. Change this, and you won’t find your own Nhaama. She will find you.”
I give my back to Magnai and leave his room, departing from the Dawn Throne. And back to my home Iloh.
When I arrived, I looked in surprise to see Shintaro. I would have sent him a messenger to explain the whole situation, because he was helping Lord Hien taking back the castle of Doma, at south, like he promised. However, he was faster than me. His smile hides his concerns about me. He knows that I can feel in his heart and I know that he is just smiling because we don’t need to share words. I take him to my tent.
“There is no need to explain, Khutula. Your sister already cleared everything.”
“I am sorry, Shin. I wish I could have told you this before. You didn’t need to come here.”
“Is this what you want? Is this your true wish?”
“If it was before, I would say no. I would stay with you in Eorzea. But this is different. They... I can feel in their hearts. They trust me. They want my guidance and I want this too. I...” I lower my head on the verge of crying. He comes closer to me, the only man ever been so close without making me uncomfortable or scared. He held my hand and with tears on his eyes he comforts me.
“Thank you, my dear princess. Without you, I would never be here, or never love again, like now.” He smiles with the sweetest smile he ever gave. “So if this is your choice, and you were free to choose, then I will come to visit you from time to time hehe...”
I chuckled. And for the first time in years I hugged someone, crying my heart out. I whispered words of gratitude, in xaelic language, in eorzean... stuttering because of the tears. But I was finally taking a weight from me. I lied to him. Nobody asked if I wanted to be like this. Nobody cared if I wanted to be the Witch Chief or not. Nobody but him. And in the end, I answered from my heart. In the end, I wanted to be there with my family and my tribe. Even if it meant to be far from you, Shintaro. Even if it meant to never see you again and my heart would miss your smile and your hope, shining through the darkest clouds. These five years we spent together worth my whole life, the one that you saved, and many more. And because of you, I can have my resolve.
I embrace my fate, because of you.