Truth is harder than a lie
The dark seems safer than the light
And everyone has a heart that loves to hide
The road from Fallgourd Float to the mine north of the small settlement was quiet, and yet Liadan's feet had never felt so heavy. She stared up at the devastated terrain as she made her way with the help of the unusual staff in her hand. Around her, she could Hear the whispers.
The stone is returned! The stone is returned!
She couldn't see them, not yet, but the near-constant whispers disturbing the silence of the evening caused her to look down at the satchel hanging against her hip, the leather-and-fabric bag carrying the three sacred stones she'd originally been charged to recover, the one she'd taken oaths to return. As she made her way up the hill, the restless elementals who had been moving aimlessly around the mine came to a stop, turning in the direction of the small, redheaded Hyur woman making her way down the path. Liadan nodded briefly at the Hearer stationed outside the mine - a fixture at the mine since the theft of the stone - and made her way to the small pedestal where the stone belonged. Reaching into her satchel, she gently placed the otherwise unremarkable stone in its place, taking a step back after a moment and turning, holding her staff up as she spoke in a calm tone.
"As promised, I have returned that which was taken. The promise between us is once more fulfilled. Now rest. Sleep, and trouble these men no more."
As she left the area, she paused to speak quietly with the other Hearer before moving on. The restless elementals were nowhere to be seen.
I'm a mess, and so are you.
We've built walls nobody can get through.
Yeah, it may be hard,
But the best thing we could ever do,
Ever do
The journey to the Stillglade Fane seemed even more surreal to Liadan. Had it been so long since she could openly enter what she had regarded as her home for the past six years? And yet she caught the glances of surprise from a few as she made her way into the chamber at the heart of the Fane, so many moons had passed since she was last seen in the halls. She circled the room, waiting to one side until E-Sumi-Yan was finished with his conversation, offering him a smile as she stepped closer. Liadan pulled the two stones from her satchel, offering them to him as she spoke.
"I have brought the Pact Stones that were taken, and return them now to you, wise one. The third has been returned to its spot at the mine in the North Shroud, but these two present a more...particular difficulty to return."
She nodded as E-Sumi summoned two other conjurers to take the stones, handing them over without objection as the Padjal turned to her and said, "Now, tell me everything that has happened."
Liadan's smile faltered for a moment, but then she withdrew a scroll, holding it out to him, "I fear that this can tell the tale better than I can. I need the Elder Seed Seer to see this, wise one. It is imperative."
Bring your brokenness, and I'll bring mine
'Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy's waiting on the other side
If we're honest
If we're honest
Don't pretend to be something that you're not
Living life afraid of getting caught
There is freedom found When we lay our secrets down
At the cross,
At the cross
"I have one more thing I need to discuss with you."
Liadan smiled down at E-Sumi-Yan as he finished reading the letter she intended for the Elder Seedseer, giving her a questioning look.
"I need to leave."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "This...journey...has taught me a great deal. I have come to realize that my prejudices and petty hatreds were wrong, and I have come to question the innate goodness of our people, of this city. I still believe that we are a good people, and that we mean well, but I no longer believe we are always right. That the elementals are always right."
Liadan fidgeted for a moment, glancing around the circular room, then back to the head of the Fane, "There is a whole world out there crying out for hope. For comfort. For help. And we have kept the hope of mankind hidden for so long that I wonder if we even remember what it was meant for in the first place." She raised a hand, covering her lips for a moment before continuing in a slightly choked tone, "O-Rehn taught me much, wise one. I don't want to die knowing that I could have made a difference...but I was too afraid to step out my home to help a world that needs me. That needs what we have hidden."
"A-Towa-Cant made a pilgrimage across Eorzea, in a time as dark as this one, and the world was changed for it. Maybe this is what I was always meant to do."
So bring your brokenness, and I'll bring mine
'Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy's waiting on the other side
If we're honest
If we're honest
Courageous whistled cheerfully as he padded down the dusty road through the South Shroud, his white feathers rustling in the breeze. Liadan chuckled softly, leaning down to pat the side of his neck as he carried her further south towards Thanalan. It had been a difficult parting, full of tears and some regrets, but she had been resolute in her belief that this was the best course of action. And, eventually, E-Sumi had agreed with her, despite his reservations. Indeed, no one seemed quite sure what to do with a Hearer whose faith in the Elementals had been so deeply shaken. Better that she not stir up further trouble at home.
Liadan tapped her chocobo on the side of his neck, "C'mon, Courageous, this'll be a great adventure! You'll see!" The chocobo, still entirely unconvinced of that fact, whistled a hopeful kweh in response and picked up speed, trotting into the treeline as she held on rather haphazardly.
It would change our lives
It would set us free
It's what we need to be
"Thank you, O-Rehn, for all you taught me. I will never forget you."
She never noticed the tiny pinprick of light hovering over her shoulder as she rode.
--------------------------
((Thank you, Verad, for telling an amazing story. And thank you for letting me be a part of it. It's completely changed the course of my character, which is the highest compliment for any storyteller! You told an amazing story I will never forget!
For anyone wanting to know the source of the lyrics, find the original artist behind the spoiler tags below!))
The dark seems safer than the light
And everyone has a heart that loves to hide
The road from Fallgourd Float to the mine north of the small settlement was quiet, and yet Liadan's feet had never felt so heavy. She stared up at the devastated terrain as she made her way with the help of the unusual staff in her hand. Around her, she could Hear the whispers.
The stone is returned! The stone is returned!
She couldn't see them, not yet, but the near-constant whispers disturbing the silence of the evening caused her to look down at the satchel hanging against her hip, the leather-and-fabric bag carrying the three sacred stones she'd originally been charged to recover, the one she'd taken oaths to return. As she made her way up the hill, the restless elementals who had been moving aimlessly around the mine came to a stop, turning in the direction of the small, redheaded Hyur woman making her way down the path. Liadan nodded briefly at the Hearer stationed outside the mine - a fixture at the mine since the theft of the stone - and made her way to the small pedestal where the stone belonged. Reaching into her satchel, she gently placed the otherwise unremarkable stone in its place, taking a step back after a moment and turning, holding her staff up as she spoke in a calm tone.
"As promised, I have returned that which was taken. The promise between us is once more fulfilled. Now rest. Sleep, and trouble these men no more."
As she left the area, she paused to speak quietly with the other Hearer before moving on. The restless elementals were nowhere to be seen.
I'm a mess, and so are you.
We've built walls nobody can get through.
Yeah, it may be hard,
But the best thing we could ever do,
Ever do
The journey to the Stillglade Fane seemed even more surreal to Liadan. Had it been so long since she could openly enter what she had regarded as her home for the past six years? And yet she caught the glances of surprise from a few as she made her way into the chamber at the heart of the Fane, so many moons had passed since she was last seen in the halls. She circled the room, waiting to one side until E-Sumi-Yan was finished with his conversation, offering him a smile as she stepped closer. Liadan pulled the two stones from her satchel, offering them to him as she spoke.
"I have brought the Pact Stones that were taken, and return them now to you, wise one. The third has been returned to its spot at the mine in the North Shroud, but these two present a more...particular difficulty to return."
She nodded as E-Sumi summoned two other conjurers to take the stones, handing them over without objection as the Padjal turned to her and said, "Now, tell me everything that has happened."
Liadan's smile faltered for a moment, but then she withdrew a scroll, holding it out to him, "I fear that this can tell the tale better than I can. I need the Elder Seed Seer to see this, wise one. It is imperative."
Bring your brokenness, and I'll bring mine
'Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy's waiting on the other side
If we're honest
If we're honest
Don't pretend to be something that you're not
Living life afraid of getting caught
There is freedom found When we lay our secrets down
At the cross,
At the cross
"I have one more thing I need to discuss with you."
Liadan smiled down at E-Sumi-Yan as he finished reading the letter she intended for the Elder Seedseer, giving her a questioning look.
"I need to leave."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "This...journey...has taught me a great deal. I have come to realize that my prejudices and petty hatreds were wrong, and I have come to question the innate goodness of our people, of this city. I still believe that we are a good people, and that we mean well, but I no longer believe we are always right. That the elementals are always right."
Liadan fidgeted for a moment, glancing around the circular room, then back to the head of the Fane, "There is a whole world out there crying out for hope. For comfort. For help. And we have kept the hope of mankind hidden for so long that I wonder if we even remember what it was meant for in the first place." She raised a hand, covering her lips for a moment before continuing in a slightly choked tone, "O-Rehn taught me much, wise one. I don't want to die knowing that I could have made a difference...but I was too afraid to step out my home to help a world that needs me. That needs what we have hidden."
"A-Towa-Cant made a pilgrimage across Eorzea, in a time as dark as this one, and the world was changed for it. Maybe this is what I was always meant to do."
So bring your brokenness, and I'll bring mine
'Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy's waiting on the other side
If we're honest
If we're honest
Courageous whistled cheerfully as he padded down the dusty road through the South Shroud, his white feathers rustling in the breeze. Liadan chuckled softly, leaning down to pat the side of his neck as he carried her further south towards Thanalan. It had been a difficult parting, full of tears and some regrets, but she had been resolute in her belief that this was the best course of action. And, eventually, E-Sumi had agreed with her, despite his reservations. Indeed, no one seemed quite sure what to do with a Hearer whose faith in the Elementals had been so deeply shaken. Better that she not stir up further trouble at home.
Liadan tapped her chocobo on the side of his neck, "C'mon, Courageous, this'll be a great adventure! You'll see!" The chocobo, still entirely unconvinced of that fact, whistled a hopeful kweh in response and picked up speed, trotting into the treeline as she held on rather haphazardly.
It would change our lives
It would set us free
It's what we need to be
"Thank you, O-Rehn, for all you taught me. I will never forget you."
She never noticed the tiny pinprick of light hovering over her shoulder as she rode.
--------------------------
((Thank you, Verad, for telling an amazing story. And thank you for letting me be a part of it. It's completely changed the course of my character, which is the highest compliment for any storyteller! You told an amazing story I will never forget!
For anyone wanting to know the source of the lyrics, find the original artist behind the spoiler tags below!))