A fortnight ago...
Enju had returned to Ishgard and subsequently taken to the Congregation of Our Knights Most Holy. He needed to reveal who he was to get passage through the city, despite what he had done. An honorable action for one nation and a disgrace to this one. He looked toward his family pendant as he was led into an interrogation room, a narrow room with two chairs and a desk between, weapon taken away as the interrogation began. It was an inevitability for this to happen, it was just a matter of when it would. He hoped for their sakes that they would at least be able to have shelter provided by his own family. If only he knew what their fate was, seeming as they disappeared after the events at the Steps of Faith.
'They're being decent, at least,' he thought. Looking toward the knight ahead of him revealed an Elezen, clean shaven and eyes fiercely locked onto him. Though his face had the facade of a calculated demeanor, he remembered the man for who he was. He had a knight in full regalia on each side. Probably muscle to rough him up, and protect the interrogator.
"You left us nearly seven years ago. Abandoned the archbishop and your duty in Ishgard. Why? Why have you returned?" His arms were folded. Little point in hiding when his face was well known within these parts. A Dragoon who had fled during the Calamity, and for what? He disappeared for a long while, hid himself outside of their walls until recently.
"I merely seek passage through now, ser. You'd have heard why already." Enju was in no mood to talk, and it was rather clear more from grief than through defiance. Enju looked toward the table in front of him. How long has it been..? He was to let go by now, she wouldn't want that.
"You left for Carteneau. Though in doing so you've shirked your duty, and ignored the call to return. You know what we do to those who abandon their men, yes?"
Enju's eyes shot up toward the man suddenly. The fierce change in personality was apparent, and spooked the man in front of him, and the two knights that stood by his side.
"I left to fight for Ishgard there, what we used to fight for! I believed in her, and I went with her to battle. Whether it was worth it or not I still question to this day." His voice roared at first, and then went softer and softer as he spoke. He let out a long sigh after he finished, his gaze avoiding the interrogator's.
The interrogator relaxed, a legitimately curious gaze moved along his face now. This was more than he expected. "Her?"
"My lady. She's fallen now, so I would rather not state her name. It's what others have done for their wives here, so I would ask that you let me do the same."Â
"And you've not been involved with Ishgard since?"
"Not since the Calamity, no."
He moved his head down with that. He kept his eyes along the table for some time, silence around the room for one tick, then three, then five. His thoughts raced toward the times before. The time of the Exiles who ousted a conspiracy with a forgotten group. The wyrmtears of Ul'dah, and the random aid he would provide toward the Houses, despite their grumblings. Finally, Enju looked up to see the interrogator in the eyes. Men like this were noble. They only wish to protect their city, their people. Perhaps he would succeed unlike himself. Perhaps he would not, and watch as they fall before wing and claw. Or would he leave like the others? It wasn't his position to question these things, nor would he ever find out. The interrogator finally spoke, letting out a deep sigh, face stern with frustration as he knew he couldn't just kill someone so valuable.
"I am sorry for your loss. Normally we would kill deserters, but as you already saw, we are in desperate need of aid, and you've aided us before in several ways, despite your secrecy on aid, the knights of Dzemael recognized your technique. I cannot have you here due to what you are. So I will do this instead. You may rest here, but afterwards, these doors will be closed to you. Your name will not be remembered, and you cannot return here as a Dragoon. You are no knight, and neither highborn nor lowborn. You are simply an adventurer now, a mercenary. An outcast. If we ever consider your aid, we will request it via messenger."
The three left right afterwards as Enju sat within the room. He shut his eyes with that, left to mull over his thoughts as he rested inside the room. Too tired to move, he would have been dragged toward one of the cots by some passerbys, needing the room for others who would return. They're an honorable lot, at least. It is not a mercy he would have given, if he was in the interrogator's shoes. He shook as he slept, the movements he made during his rest made it all too clear to those watching him that he told the truth. They left him to sleep, with more questions than answers.
Enju had returned to Ishgard and subsequently taken to the Congregation of Our Knights Most Holy. He needed to reveal who he was to get passage through the city, despite what he had done. An honorable action for one nation and a disgrace to this one. He looked toward his family pendant as he was led into an interrogation room, a narrow room with two chairs and a desk between, weapon taken away as the interrogation began. It was an inevitability for this to happen, it was just a matter of when it would. He hoped for their sakes that they would at least be able to have shelter provided by his own family. If only he knew what their fate was, seeming as they disappeared after the events at the Steps of Faith.
'They're being decent, at least,' he thought. Looking toward the knight ahead of him revealed an Elezen, clean shaven and eyes fiercely locked onto him. Though his face had the facade of a calculated demeanor, he remembered the man for who he was. He had a knight in full regalia on each side. Probably muscle to rough him up, and protect the interrogator.
"You left us nearly seven years ago. Abandoned the archbishop and your duty in Ishgard. Why? Why have you returned?" His arms were folded. Little point in hiding when his face was well known within these parts. A Dragoon who had fled during the Calamity, and for what? He disappeared for a long while, hid himself outside of their walls until recently.
"I merely seek passage through now, ser. You'd have heard why already." Enju was in no mood to talk, and it was rather clear more from grief than through defiance. Enju looked toward the table in front of him. How long has it been..? He was to let go by now, she wouldn't want that.
"You left for Carteneau. Though in doing so you've shirked your duty, and ignored the call to return. You know what we do to those who abandon their men, yes?"
Enju's eyes shot up toward the man suddenly. The fierce change in personality was apparent, and spooked the man in front of him, and the two knights that stood by his side.
"I left to fight for Ishgard there, what we used to fight for! I believed in her, and I went with her to battle. Whether it was worth it or not I still question to this day." His voice roared at first, and then went softer and softer as he spoke. He let out a long sigh after he finished, his gaze avoiding the interrogator's.
The interrogator relaxed, a legitimately curious gaze moved along his face now. This was more than he expected. "Her?"
"My lady. She's fallen now, so I would rather not state her name. It's what others have done for their wives here, so I would ask that you let me do the same."Â
"And you've not been involved with Ishgard since?"
"Not since the Calamity, no."
He moved his head down with that. He kept his eyes along the table for some time, silence around the room for one tick, then three, then five. His thoughts raced toward the times before. The time of the Exiles who ousted a conspiracy with a forgotten group. The wyrmtears of Ul'dah, and the random aid he would provide toward the Houses, despite their grumblings. Finally, Enju looked up to see the interrogator in the eyes. Men like this were noble. They only wish to protect their city, their people. Perhaps he would succeed unlike himself. Perhaps he would not, and watch as they fall before wing and claw. Or would he leave like the others? It wasn't his position to question these things, nor would he ever find out. The interrogator finally spoke, letting out a deep sigh, face stern with frustration as he knew he couldn't just kill someone so valuable.
"I am sorry for your loss. Normally we would kill deserters, but as you already saw, we are in desperate need of aid, and you've aided us before in several ways, despite your secrecy on aid, the knights of Dzemael recognized your technique. I cannot have you here due to what you are. So I will do this instead. You may rest here, but afterwards, these doors will be closed to you. Your name will not be remembered, and you cannot return here as a Dragoon. You are no knight, and neither highborn nor lowborn. You are simply an adventurer now, a mercenary. An outcast. If we ever consider your aid, we will request it via messenger."
The three left right afterwards as Enju sat within the room. He shut his eyes with that, left to mull over his thoughts as he rested inside the room. Too tired to move, he would have been dragged toward one of the cots by some passerbys, needing the room for others who would return. They're an honorable lot, at least. It is not a mercy he would have given, if he was in the interrogator's shoes. He shook as he slept, the movements he made during his rest made it all too clear to those watching him that he told the truth. They left him to sleep, with more questions than answers.
