Traveler

She arrived at Little Ala Mhigo with her next teleport, happy that she previously attuned to their Aetheryte when they passed through to Ul’dah. It was getting later in the evening, but with how everything was lit by the torch fires within the caves, she set out to search for the older Ala Mhigan male that helped them. She remembered that he called himself Gundobald, but she wondered if it would be easy to find him. 

She learned after her quick search that it was—as he sat by a small camp set and fire. Several other Ala Mhigans were circled around with him, passing food amongst themselves. She approached, and with the shuffle of rocks under her boot made the older Ala Mhigan look up to her. 

“Ul’dah a bit too much for you Au Ra?” He seemed to remember her too, and noted her dirty disposition. Her messy hair riddled with dust, rock, and dirt. The streaks of the earth that crusted on her hands, face, and neck were obvious.

Azlyn smiled. “I suppose you could say that. I apologize for the sudden visit.” 

He sighed, passing a decent serving over to one of the Ala Mhigan’s next to him. “State your business and be quick about it.” 

She wondered if he was disinclined to associate with outsiders, but he was helpful to Roll and her some weeks back. Unfortunately his demeanor seemed put off, but that might have been due to their estranged conditions and being in such a predicament. 

Pulling out the papers she found off the dead brigadier, she frowned. “I was looking for a masked man in eastern Thanalan when an Ala Mhigan rogue attacked me in the process. The connection seemed uncanny, so I wanted to check all the boxes before assuming.” 

He crossed his arms, glaring up to her. “Looking for a masked villain? And why should we help you, pray?” He held the papers with Rhalgr’s prayer before he tossed it into the fire. “We struggle enough without having to answer to the whim of every outsider. You are not welcome here. Begone.” He waved his hand back and forth to indicate his disapproval. 

Azlyn looked to him with wide eyes. How did their relationship sour so quickly. Perhaps it was because she interrupted their dinner. “Have a good dinner.” She wished them, bowing her head to them. They didn’t pay her any mind, since he said his piece. And any evidence she had now was burning to cinders where their meal was getting cooked. 

She walked away, moving out to the center of Little Ala Mhigo. She could see the brilliant stars shining bright in the night sky. It wasn’t as if this was the first time she was denied information because she was an outsider. But she never once felt deterred by that. If there was one thing she felt confident about, it was her sheer knack for winning people over through her hard work. Trust was hard to win, and the only way she could earn it was through working with and for the people. It just meant she’d be in Little Ala Mhigo for a time.

It was one thing to try and earn the trust of the refugees that lived in Little Ala Mhigo, and it was another just getting one to speak with her. She almost lost her drive after forty minutes asking around, that was until a young Lalafellin woman approached her. She had tanned skin and wore simplistic robes. Her dirty blonde hair was short, full bangs over the forehead with part of it held back with a headband. Her brown eyes had an odd sense of familiarity.

“Pardon me? Would you be looking for work?”

Azlyn jumped at the opportunity. “Y-yes! Is there anything you need done, I’ll be more than happy to oblige!”

The girl nodded her head. “My name is Hihira. Would you please accompany me to my campsite?”

She followed her back to her site, making sure to stay out of eye sight from Gundobald. She was welcomed inside the girl’s tent, and when she was inside, she sat down on the floor. Hihira walked around her to sit on her small cot. “Please hear my plea—as you have no doubt observed, many poor souls in this camp suffer from afflictions most grievous. Indeed, it is to deliver them succor that I have made the journey here from Ul’dah—traveling over to Highbridge with my father and then heading here.”

“Oh. I just came from there not too long ago. A merchant by the name of Hihibaru helped me out.” She gestured to her new boots, and the Lalafellin examined her boots in kind.

“Ah! Well this is quite the coincidence indeed. That was my father—I’m such a poor daughter, leaving him to his wares without so much to help him. I feel awful about it.” She shook her head. “But he understands why I came here, and while it has been difficult for us—I hope to make it less difficult for others.” Hihira sighed, further explaining her dilemma. “And yet, I fear that my efforts thus far have been for naught. The residents are most distrustful of outsiders—particularly those hailing from Ul’dah. They look upon my medicine as if it were poison.”

Azlyn frowned. “That distrustful?”

Hihira nodded. “Were an adventurer such as yourself to deliver the elixir, perhaps they would be willing to accept it. I have no one else to turn to. Will you go in my stead?”

“Of course—I’ll do what I can to help.” She affirmed with a firm nod.

Hihira walked over to the tent flap, gesturing to Azlyn to look where she was pointing. “Give it to Berold over there, and the two others will be on the opposite side of camp.” She proceeded to pull out the three vials of medicine, handing it over to her. “Good luck.”

Shuffling out from the tent, Azlyn walked over to the first camp site where a man was wheezing and hacking by his bags. She approached him with concern, crouching down to his level. “Sir, are you alright?”

The one she’d known as Berold hacked. “Me throat…it burns!”

Azlyn brought one of the vials of medicine out, holding it out for him. “This medicine should help alleviate your symptoms.”

The disdainful look at the glass made his answer well known. He spoke it nonetheless. “Medicine, ye say? Bah!” He started to cough harder. “I’d sooner drink sandworm piss than that Ul’dahn swill!” He wheezed, scuttling over to his tent and resting against the flap. It took all his energy just to move.

Azlyn was concerned, but she wouldn’t force it on him if he didn’t want it. She stowed the vial back in her bag. She nodded to him. “Take it easy, sir.”

She left the western side of camp, to head to the eastern part of the small hamlet. It didn’t take her long to find the two other patients, as they were also wheezing and coughing hard.

Azlyn stopped by one man, he introduced himself as Otelin. “Wh-what’s an adventurer like you doing in these parts.” His words had long pauses between them as he spoke, as if he couldn’t breathe. “I can’t breathe.” He crumpled down near his tent site. She knelt to him, pulling out a vial.

“I have some medicine Otelin, please it will help your symptoms.”

He weakly raised a hand up, and smacked the vial from her hand. He glared to it with anger. “Another phony elixir cooked up by those—” He was interrupted by a series of coughs. He caught his breath once more, giving him a chance to explain. “those Ul’dahn quacks. Begone. I don’t want it or need it.” He curled up on the ground, saving his energy for another time.

Azlyn gave him a worrying glance, but like the first patient, she wouldn’t force it upon him. It wasn’t her right to do so. “I understand. Please, rest easy. If there’s something I can do to help, let me know.”

He grunted to her, a passing glance, and nothing else.

She found the following patient across the way, the tent happened to be a neighbor to Otelin’s. He had seen the whole incident unfold, and when she walked to him, he had a hardened gaze. “What is it outsider? Come to mock us in our suffering? Go ahead and laugh. Laugh to your hearts content.”

Azlyn shook her head. “No. I would never do such a thing.” She gripped her knuckles until they started to turn white. “I don’t make mockery of people or their choices.”

He spat to the side, “That’s what I think of you outsiders and your medicine. I’d rather die with dignity than owe my life to Ul’dah.” The man turned away from her, curling into his tent.

She nodded to him. “Please rest easy.”

The man didn’t say anything to her, as she got up from the ground and walked back the way she came. She went back to the western side of camp, and over to Hihira’s tent. She pulled  out the two bottles she had left, seeing how the other one had been broken when it was tossed to the side.

“I tried to—but they refused.”

Hihira sadly nodded. “But one accepted.”

Azlyn shook her head. “No. He broke the vial when I offered it to him.”

She dropped her head. “I-I see.” She reached up to slap both sides of her own cheeks, before she attempted to smile. “Take heart, friend—you did what you could. Age-old wounds are not healed so easily, but I must not give up this cause. I wonder—maybe it’s not me that the refugees are so distrustful of, but the medicine itself.”

The Au Ra got the same sense from the three patients whom she talked with as well. They only got defensive when the medicine had been brought forth. Given that scenario, it probably a valid point.

“The Ala Mhigans are wary of outsiders, this is true. Yet I suspect it is the thought of ingesting an alchemical concoction of Ul’dahn make that frightens them most of all. Maybe you can ask the kind old refugee who had accepted my treatment before. Their name is Alfan. You can find him by the Aetheryte crystal in the center of town. Ask him if there is any truth to my theory.”

With nothing else she could do given the circumstance, and with people suffering, she decided that might be the best choice. She left the western portion of town, and headed to the small pocket that was protected by the large cliffs that made Little Ala Mhigo into the small hamlet that it was. The moon could be seen up above as she found only one other under a tarp. He was tending to a small workshop of his.

“Good evening, are you Alfan?”

The man nodded. “I am outsider. Who are ye?”

“My apologies. My name is Azlyn.” She performed an eastern bow to him.

He gave her a small nod. “What brings one as hale and hearty as yerself to this godsforsaken place?”

“Hihira wanted me to ask you something in her stead. She’s wondering why the Ala Mhigans are refusing her medicine. Is it because of her being an outsider, or if it is the medicine itself.” Azlyn went straight to the point, hoping that it would win her some favors in the long run.

The older man sighed, “Hihira. In me years, I’ve seen many an outsider come and go, but none quite like that girl. I don’t begrudge me countrymen their judgments, o’ course—gods know they’ve seen Ul’dah at its worst. But its clear even to me clouded ol’ eyes that the girl means well, and I can’t bring meself to scorn her good intentions.” He shook his head. “Forgive me, you were askin’ about medicine, were ye not? We Ala Mhigans aren’t much for alchemy, but we’ve got our fair share o’ remedies passed down through the years. Steep the fruit of a sabotender in hot water, fer instance, and ye get a tea that’ll soothe the worst o’ fevers.”

Azlyn didn’t know this. “That sounds quite lovely, actually.” She knew there were sabotenders roaming around outside the hamlet, but never actually considered the prospects of the fruit it bore.

“Call it an old man’s hunch, but I’ve a feelin’ that even the most stubborn o’ me countrymen would gladly down a cup o’ cactus tea, even if it were the Ul’dahn lass who did the brewin’.” Alfan responded with a hand to his chin. He gave Azlyn a wry smile.

“Thank you very much!” She performed another eastern bow to him, before she rushed out from Little Ala Mhigo. She would stay out all night if she had to find the Sabotenders. She arrived at a small area known as Broken Water, just west of Little Ala Mhigo. There she summoned her emerald carbuncle and started herding the sabotenders together to bunch them together. She wanted to quickly overwhelm them before they could call in reinforcements.

It only took her thirty minutes to acquire four fruits, but she wanted to get some more just to be on the safe side. She patrolled around Broken Water until she found another pack of them. She was good at keeping her distance from them, using her magic spells to apprehend and stop them before they shot their needles to her.

The last thing she wanted was to pluck cacti needles from her skin. That didn’t sound too lovely at all.

Another thirty minutes had come and gone, and she finally had a decent batch of sabotender fruits that would be perfect to brew tea with. She ran back into Little Ala Mhigo, making sure to walk quietly by the tents that had slumbering residents. Azlyn was careful all the way over to Hihira, as she held out her skirt holding the fruits.

“Hihira!” She whispered urgently. “Alfan said a traditional remedy might help. If you brew these sabotender fruits in hot water, they will make a cactus tea that the Ala Mhigans may not refuse. Can you make it?”

The Lalafell rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “A traditional Ala Mhigan remedy made from steeping the fruit of a sabotender? Why, I had no idea! I owe Alfan my gratitude.”

Azlyn smiled. “Make him a cup, I’m sure he’d love it.”

They got to work. While Hihira was preparing the space to brew the tea, Azlyn went to find more water. Hihira told her of the well in the center of town, where she could pull a few buckets from the reservoir below. She was then handed two buckets, and off she went to get the water. Hihira started a small fire outside her tent, placing a large black cauldron on the fire to warm.

She rushed to the well, seeing Alfan give her a knowing smile as she began pulling up pails of water to fill the buckets. She paid the water service fee to the officer standing by, and then she ran back off to Hihira’s tent. When she arrived, Azlyn poured the water into the cauldron, waiting for the water to boil before adding in the fruits.

It was a quick process to ground the fruits into a dried powder, and as the cauldron was hot the water inside soon came to a boil. A wonderful aroma filled the air. Azlyn made sure to stir constantly, creating a nice foam on top, and checking the temperature, noting when the tea would be good to pour for drinking. If it was like most of her herbal teas back home, this would be a similar process.

Hihira poured three cups of tea, and Azlyn found a circular like stone that she could use as a makeshift tray. “Three cups of cactus tea! Oh, I hope I’ve not overbrewed this. Please, deliver this tea to the suffering refugees.”

Azlyn smiled, before walking over to Berold’s tent. He wasn’t sleeping like the other residents were, as his cough had kept him up this late in the evening. She knelt to him, holding out the tray of tea.

“You—again. I told ye—” He stopped when the aromatic smell of the cactus tea caught his sense of smell. “Is that cactus tea I smell?”

Azlyn handed him a cup from her stone tray with a warm smile. “I hope this soothes your throat and cough Berold.”

He accepted the cup gratefully, sipping it slow and steady. Berold looked up to her with a relaxed expression. “Thank ye.”

“Rest well friend and enjoy.” She stood up, walking away from him and over to the opposite side of camp.

She found her two favorite patients hacking by their tents by the time she arrived. She first went to Otelin, who shook his head at her arrival. “You tell the Ul’dahn wench that I’ll have—” He wheezed horribly. “None of her foul alchemy.”

Azlyn merely knelt to his level, holding the tray at her side with ease. She smiled, waiting for the aroma of the cactus tea to reach him.

“Cactus tea?”

She grabbed the hot glass cup, handing it to him gingerly. His hands shook holding it, before he started to drink. She could see his eyes tear up a little. “And just like my dear mum used to brew it.” He coughed, but not as loudly as before. “I don’t know where you came by this, but you’re a godssend.”

“I’m glad you like it. Please, rest well.”

The other who had been watching their interaction hurriedly sat up. And by hurriedly, he was wheezing horrendously to put himself into a proper sitting position. “Sit with me outsider.” He pat the carpet next to him, and she knelt on her knees where he indicated. “My name is Arcavius. It is true I would rather go to the grave before I’m gulled by Ul’dahn quackery—but for a fresh brewed cactus tea I’ll take what I can get.”

Azlyn held the tray out to him, he shakily grabbed the cup between his fingers and raised the cup to his lips. She smiled, placing the tray back down on top of her thighs.

“Old Alfan’s recipe, no doubt.” He nodded. “I’ll drink it, but if that Ul’dahn girl thinks a cup of tea can heal years of suffering, she’d best think again.”

She looked down to her tray. “How is it?”

He licked the foam from his lips. “It’s good.”

They sat in silence, occasionally, she could hear some coughs and wheezes come through between him and his neighbor. It wasn’t until he finished the drink that he looked to her with a curious look. “We don’t see many Auri in Eorzea. I saw a few in Ala Mhigo, and a then some when they would travel to Rhalgr’s Reach, but it wasn’t very often. What brings a young one like yourself to these lands?”

Azlyn pondered about how best to explain. Was it fate? Was it because of her parents? She still didn’t have an answer. “I wanted to help people. I couldn’t sit back and watch from the sidelines again—so I guess I’m just doing my part.”

Arcavius regarded her closely. “I see.”

“I should let you get some rest.” She replied to him, holding the tray up to her chest. “Thank you for your time.”

He waved her concern off, holding the cup up. “Thank you, outsider.”

She got up from his carpet, bowing to him with her eastern bow. “Please rest well.” Azlyn left the camp, walking back into the central part of town where Alfan sat atop a box of crates. He was holding a cup of tea in his hands, and Hihira sat beside him. They were chatting happily, and Azlyn had no intention to interrupt.

It was a long day, so she decided to leave Little Ala Mhigo to a stretch of land just outside. She pitched her tent and set up a small fire so that she could stay warm. It wasn’t as if she slept through the night—per say, but she did have a great view of the night sky above—a clear sky—and endless possibilities for the next days to come.

The next day arrived with no issue, as the sun slowly rose in the east. Its blinding light awoke her from her nap against the mountain side. She stretched, letting her limbs snap themselves back to sense. The pins and needles feeling started to ebb as she groggily moved to put away her small camp. She rolled up the fabric with ease, having done these numerous occasions beforehand, and made sure the fire had been fully put out.

Fifteen minutes later she had a bit of jerky she was chewing on for breakfast and walking back into the small hamlet. The activity seemed relatively peaceful, as she entered the central plaza with ease. Only for a muscular and burly Highlander Hyur to approach her. He crossed his arms, staring at her with hardened eyes.

“Are you the outsider who helped Hihira brew that cactus tea last night?”

Azlyn rubbed the sleep from her already exhausted eyes. “—yes, why are those three alright? Did something happen?”

The man shook his head. “No, I just wanted to thank you. I’m Gisilbehrt, head of security here at Little Ala Mhigo. I heard tell you had business with Gundobald. Knowing the bristly old bear, I don’t doubt he told you to bugger off.”

She shrugged. “It’s nothing I haven’t experienced before.”

“Owing to their hardships, the refugees don’t trust anyone but themselves. Not even my men and I can get so much as a word of thanks out of them despite watching the place day and night.” Gisilbehrt moved his arms from his chest to his sides, as his hands found his hips. “But thanks or no, I try to help my fellow man when I can, and you seem a decent sort. If you tell me what’s brought you here, might be as I an lend a hand.”

The Au Ra supposed it couldn’t hurt. Maybe this guard may have seen something that someone else may not want to tell her. “I’m looking for a masked man moving around suspiciously. He might laugh ridiculously like this.” She gave her best Lahabrea impression.

“A masked villain, with a laugh like that?” He looked up in thought. “Can’t say that sounds familiar, but I have men on lookout for Amal’jaa to the south of here. If there’s suspicious activity, they are like to have seen it.”

Azlyn pulled out her map for southern Thanalan, directing the man to point where his lookout team would be at. She noted the position he pointed at, and then she rolled the map back up. “Thank you. I guess I’ll go check over there.”

She was about to run off, only for him to grab her by the shoulder. She hopped on one of her legs, regaining her momentum to turn back to him. “Did I miss something?”

Gisilbehrt held up three canteens for her. “Last night some of my patrols heard a fair maiden graced Little Ala Mhigo with cactus tea. I think a cup of sweet Thanalan tea would lift their spirits, and they’ll be more willing to tell you what you want given this.”

Azlyn accepted the canteens with a smile. “No worries, I’ll be sure to deliver them promptly.”

She ran off into the desert of south Thanalan, running along the paths to the area Gisilbehrt directed her toward. Twenty minutes had gone by before she spotted the three of the men standing together under the shade of the bridge. They were looking southward, but staving off the blistering heat that started to broil the sands.

What she found out after delivering the tea was clear. Two of the guards had no clue who she was talking about, however the Lalafellin private quirked his head in thought. “A suspicious masked man...? As a matter of fact, I caught glimpse of someone fitting that description during patrol.”

“Where?” Azlyn asked.

“Well I couldn’t exactly quite make out whether it was a man or not, what with the mask and the robe. But assuming it was a he, he was talking with some Ala Mhigans. I assumed he was one of them.”

That didn’t bode well. Azlyn furrowed her brow in concern. This was close to Zanr’ak, prayer grounds to Ifrit himself.

She decided to head back to Little Ala Mhigo to report back to Gisilbehrt. It became clear that for her to continue this investigation of hers, she’d have to win the trust of the Ala Mhigans. And that would be no simple task—given that she was an outsider.

“You’re determined to press on in your investigation? Then I have some advice to offer.” Gisilbehrt offered her a consolidation prize for some of her effort up to this point. “As I said before, you won’t get far without the Ala Mhigan’s trust. And the best way to win that trust is to get a compatriot of theirs—someone they respect—to vouch for you. Coin does the talking in Ul’dah, but the Ala Mhigans are bound by something far stronger, if not as tangible: a common purpose.”

Azlyn had a funny feeling it would be about the Garleans.

“That purpose, is of course, the liberation of their home from the Garleans.”

As she thought.

“If only liberation was that simple.” Azlyn sighed aloud, tapping her cheek in thought. “Garlemald has quite a strong imperial control not only in Ala Mhigo, but throughout the other sister countries as well. Yanxia, Othard, Werlyt, Bojza…. The amount of land they managed to gain under their rule is as massive as it comes. If we liberate only one—it wouldn’t solve the heart of the major problem.” There was really no simple way to address this tumultuous situation.

“But it’s something they continue to strive for.” Gisilbehrt looked surprised by her knowledge of the whole picture. “A big undertaking, however you have to play the cards you’re dealt with. This current moment, you have only a few options. Gundobald being your most favorable. He belongs to the Ala Mhigan Resistance, so it would be in your best interest to find someone who are part of the same crew. If you know any well-connected people, you might want to start by asking them.”

Azlyn frowned, that would just bring her back to square one. There weren’t really many people who could have a hand in a resistance force like the Ala Mhigan resistance. She sighed. “Thank you Gisilbehrt. I’ll head back for a bit and see who I can speak to.”

It meant she’d have to go back to Minfillia. She was the only one she could think of that might have a connection—if she had none, maybe Thancred—but he seemed busy with his work. She left Little Ala Mhigo, teleporting to Horizon and slowly made the trip back to Vesper Bay. The time it took to travel, she had the opportunity to process everything about the Ala Mhigans, their rough history with Ul’dah, the strange appearances of an Ascian speaking with the Ala Mhigans—it all just didn’t bode well. It felt like she had wet socks that squished loudly whenever she walked—and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

She walked into the headquarters, half expecting to see Tataru at the door, but odd enough no one was up on the main floor. Maybe the little clerk had been sleeping in. Shrugging, she moved down the steps into the Waking Sands. It was quiet, where few people walked the halls.

A lone figure was sitting on a bench at the bottom of the staircase, his hands were clasped together. She could see his white hair was a bit more shaggy than normal, not as combed as it was the first few times they met. She went over to sit beside him, crossing her ankles.

“Good morning.” He replied dully, he didn’t look to her but still to his hands.

Azlyn looked to his profile. She could tell that something was eating away at his mind but wasn’t quite sure how to address it. She didn’t know how old he was, by any means, but she also felt weird leaving him be.

“It’s more like a long day, but I’ll take whatever you can give me.” She tried to crack her lower back that had been bothering her since last night.

Thancred finally looked to her, and she could see the dark circles forming under his usually jovial eyes. “I heard you collapsed during an examination with Urianger. Are you alright?”

She nodded. “I’m fit as a fiddle.” She pumped her arm to showcase her full energy. She hoped he wouldn’t see the blood that soaked her clothes. She doubted it, as he was as observant as all the Scions. “I think he kickstarted something into a healing process. Probably just need to rest a bit more.” She hummed a bit, deciding to kick her feet now. “You look like me—the lacking sleep part.” Azlyn pointed to his face, giving him a worried look. “Are you doing okay?”

He unclasped his hands, rubbing one over his face—the other through his hair. “Twelve preserve. I must be losing it for you to be worrying about me. What the blazes happened to you? You look like someone shanked you in the back.”

“I wasn’t shanked—just stabbed.” 

“Stabbed? By who?” 

“Someone wanting me dead?” She answered his question with a question. 

“Twelve forfend.” He sighed heavily. “I don’t understand why ladies like to keep their mysteries about them, but I suppose you’ll let us know if you need anything.” Azlyn stuck her tongue to him, hoping he wasn’t insulting her. “But honestly, are you okay?”

Nodding, Azlyn plucked at her dirtied attire. “I’m okay—I just look way worse than it actually seems.” She gave her a steadied glance. “You never answered my question. Are you alright Thancred? And don’t try to change the conversation again, I won’t let it pass a second time.” 

He sighed. “You’re persistent. I’m in perfect health, just didn’t sleep well last night.” 

Azlyn looked to him. “Worrying over something?” 

“More like over thinking something.” 

“Ahhh.” She bobbed her head. “Is there something I can do to help? I make a great listening partner—bounce ideas off of me if you want. I used to do the same with the students of Baldesion.” She waited for him to reply to her, as he frowned to the ground.

“Just be you. That’s all you need to do for me.” He finally smiled a cocky grin, reaching over to ruffle her hair. She tried to move her head out from his reach, but he just pulled her head in closer. “Thank you for worrying. Well I should get back to the grind, nothing like a long day to keep the wheels churning.” Thancred released her then, before he stood up from the bench.  He turned his nose to her, sniffing the air. “Did you sleep outside? You smell like herbal tea and campfire.”

Azlyn lifted one of her arms to sniff her sleeve. “Huh, I guess I do smell like that.”

“Where’d you run off to by yourself?” He posed his question carefully, looking at her.

She rolled her neck in response. “I was checking out some rumors in Little Ala Mhigo.” And then grimaced. “Actually, that’s why I came here—but now that I think about it—I could have just called her over the linkpearl.” Azlyn frowned at this new information she just processed. “Nooooo, I could have saved myself the long trip over here.”

Thancred watched as she dropped her head into her hands. He laughed at her. “You’ll get used to it short stuff.”

Azlyn pouted. “Why can’t you guys just be in a place with an Aetheryte? It would make it sooooooo much easier.” She shook her head.

The man with white hair crossed his arms, “Many of the Scions have stated the same thing, but I actually prefer we don’t have one. We’re less likely to have the Aetheryte used against us, after all.” It was then that a sudden thought came to him. He went silent, as his face furrowed—like something triggered within his mind. “I think I just figured out my problem.” He smirked, pointing down the hall to Minfillia’s office. “Better get going, Minfillia should be up in the solar. I’m going to head out once again.” Thancred waved and retreated up the stairs.

“Bye Thancred!” She called, hoping her voice caught him on the way out. “Safe travels!”

When the doors shut closed above, she hopped off the bench and walked down the hall to the solar. Everything was still quiet, even when she slowly opened the door. “Minfillia?”

“Welcome back Azlyn!” Minfillia lifted her head from the papers she was reading at her desk. She was sitting comfortably behind it, with a plate of fruit and a cup of tea. “How fares the investigation?”

And so Azlyn explained everything that had occurred between Ul’dah to the Highbridge, and the connection between the black robed villain and some residents of Little Ala Mhigo. She discussed about earning their trust, but having difficulty earning it. “—so after Gisilbehrt’s advice, I decided to come back here. Although I could have probably called instead—now that I think about it.” She sheepishly rubbed the side of her cheek.

Minfillia laid her papers on her desk, folding both of her hands-on top of them. “I see. Given all that they have suffered, it is of little wonder the Ala Mhigan refugees have lost faith in their fellow man. They had their homeland taken away from them, and for the past two decades have had to see it remain in enemy clutches.” She looked to the side, her profile looked mournful. “To compound matters, none of the three city-states have the means to take in all those who were displaced. As a result, a great many Ala Mhigans now live on the margins of society, suffering poverty and discrimination.”

They both sighed in unison, the problem was not something Azlyn had no heard of before. Ul’dah practically was bursting at the seams with refugees and their camps as it was. It was no wonder that the Ala Mhigans in Little Ala Mhigo even tolerated an Ul’dah.

“Would that more could be done to ease their hardships. I fear that nothing short of reclaiming their homeland would be a lasting solution.”

Azlyn shook her head. “I wouldn’t say it’s a lasting solution—but a means to an end.” The calamity did no one any favors, and probably helped the Garleans pursuit for further conquest in the long run. They were practically in a race to see who would come out on top—to which Garlemald was winning by a few several malms.

Minfillia lifted her cup of tea, sipping it gently. “We should deal with one problem at a time. Returning to the matter of your investigation, it just so happens there is an Ala Mhigan native among the Scions. I should be pleased to introduce you to him.”

Azlyn quirked her head. “Oh?”

She nodded. “Your Ala Mhigan comrade is name Haribehrt. He joined our cause in the hopes that he might find a way to liberate his homeland. While he spares no effort towards the endeavor, I have no doubt he would be glad to assist you. Haribehrt is in-between missions—try looking for him in the storage area.”

The girl nodded her head. “Alright, thank you Minfillia. I’ll promise to bring you better results.”

“Azlyn.” The Antecedent smiled beyond her teacup. The girl stopped in her retreat, looking over her shoulder. The woman placed her cup back down on the desk, before she laced her fingers together. “Perhaps you should clean up first? Tataru can show you the facilities.” 

“—Right.” Azlyn smiled. “Thank you.”