His meeting with the cold hyuran woman had been short-lived. Brief. More than he had wanted to handle, in any case. As all meetings with her were. The dark forested parts of the Black Shroud had made an ideal meeting place for her to find him. “You’ve grown too complacent.†“You could use a bit of application of yourself.†The words had sunk in. Left a rather bad taste in his mouth.
She had been keeping track all of this time. But that much should have been expected. That he had been allowed to live so freely for the past few moons should have been enough evidence that time was gift. She had let him experience those things. Left him to his own devices to make a face for himself. To pick himself back up after past events. It had seemed she even allowed him to be happy and content for a short period following.
That had all ended now, however. “Do not grow dull and useless. It would be such a waste of your unique talents.†More words that had found their way digging into him. What had transpired during that talk in the forest was simple. She had seen past the simple masks and defenses he had put up to live peacefully. Or perhaps they had never been there to start, and he had simply been lying to himself and others for too long. Lying to himself that he would be fine. Lying to others that he was fine. Lying was something the Garlean had become used to. If he could piece together the proper words, it didn’t matter if they were true or not to some people. Add a smile or frown into the conversation.
Tell people what they want to hear. It was simple enough.
And then she was gone. As the wind rustled through the leaves, the hyuran woman had left without a trace, as usual. Likely to continue her watching from afar. He was given a task. By whatever means necessary. Not a request. Or something he wanted to do. A requirement. Order. He would need to travel to Ishgard and its surrounding areas for some time. To the Elezen’s home city. To a land where the people had been engaged in a war for over a thousand years. And even if he were to act perfectly. To do all that was asked of him. He would be no closer to what he wanted. Only further from what he did not want.
Exiting the Bobbing Cork, Franz packed his few belongings and stepped onto the wooden planks making up the whole of Fallgourd Float. Few people had yet to awaken, which was good for him. There was no one to get in his way, or ask anything of him, or to speak with. A bag of gil in his hand, he walked up to the Chocobo Porter, asking how soon he could depart into Coerthas, bound for Ishgard. He wasn’t against walking, but there were preparations he need to have ready. Too many to easily carry upon one bird. “I would like a cart of items to be brought on the travel to Ishgard. I can afford any of the fees.†The Porter did not need to know any more. He paid his fare, leaving a few extra coins to keep the person silent on his behalf. He then departed.
He watched as the lush forest turned to flat stones, and then to the snowy mountains of Coerthas, stopping a few suns in between the journey to rest the birds along the way. He realized how irritating it was that Ishgard had only just reopened its gates, not having included airship travel to the city at that time. After paying his fare to the porter, Franz lightly hopped from the carriage that had brought him into Ishgard. He frowned when he noticed he could see his breath as he exhaled, muttering “was better when it was greener…†to himself. Sending the Porter to a storage location to drop off his belongings, Franz decided he would need to find a heavier coat and some more formal attire. The shirts and pants that had been comfortable to wear were too thin for the cold weather. And his sollerets would rust in this weather and he would have none of it.
As he made his way through the city, he tried to avoid eye contact with as many as possible. It was unclear who would judge him for simply looking out of place. It was a very unnerving feeling to know he was walking the streets for the first time, yet remember them from the man whose life he had taken. To continue to use familiar landmarks and shortcuts that had not changed in the years since Francois Kirche had fled south into other lands, under the name Frhanz. But he wasn’t that man. The Elezen was dead. His name recycled into something the Garlean could use. He whispered to himself as he entered the Jeweled Crozier. “I am not Francois Kirche, Frhanz Kirche, or even Franz Kirche. I am only Franz. The name is not mine.†The sooner he had some more weather-appropriate clothes, the faster he could look for somewhere to stay. Too much time spent in the desert and forests had left him unaccustomed to the cold. He did not like it.
After what felt like too much time, Franz found himself the owner of suitable garments that were for one of his size. “Too tall for an average Hyur’s and too thick for an Elezen’s, my arse,†muttering. Whatever feelings about Ishgard that had resided in the House Kirche Elezen had certainly made him much more irritable about the entire situation. But it had its benefits. He could fake the local greetings and dialect. And a merchant that assumed he was simply buying new supplies to replace old ones was certainly preferable to one that viewed him as an outsider.
Then came the issue of where to stay. He needed somewhere far away enough from the noble houses such that he would not gain their interest, but somewhere...civilized enough to not have to worry about being attacked in the night and mugged. He remembered that a large number of adventurers had flocked to the city when its gates were opened. Surely some of the inns had begun to capitalize on such. And wherever the herds of adventurers traveled, there was enough going on to stay out of the public eye.
Stepping into one such establishment, he could at least take some interest in the beautiful marble flooring and lush carpets that adorned the entrance of the inn. If he were going to stay in the city, he was going to stay somewhere that would be comfortable. Wearing only the most professional of smiles, he made his way to the receptionist, booking a room and meals of his picking. There was no shortage of funds that could be acquired in the city, and he was confident in his ability to convince the place to store his belongings when needed. After all, why would they have reason to mistrust him? They would hear the words they wished to hear, and would be paid nicely for it as well.
His living conditions in Ishgard arranged, all that was left was to reply to Kage’s letter. There was not much to mention. Thankfully the inn could parchment and ink that wouldn’t freeze while writing.
Quote:You can find me in Ishgard now, Kage.
I do not know know who this D’ly is and have not moved your chocobo. Do such yourself.
I have no plans to speak with that family. It is better that way.
-Franz
He took some solace in knowing he could not be forced into having to interact with the Kirche family. Kage would not know where to find them, and even if he did, there was little an outsider could do. Once the letter was sent, he had a small meal and arranged for hot water to be sent to his room for a bath. Unless there was business to be done, he would likely find himself at the Aetheryte Plaza to return to somewhere with more amicable temperatures.