NINE MOONS AGO
The sickeningly orange chunk of crystal hurtled down toward the mixed group of Eorzeans along the shores of the Isle of Umbra. They all wore patches on their gear that identified them as members of the Astral Agency -- a simple adventuring company  with a not so simple fate.Â
Corrupted aether sparked and flashed from the crystal , ready to be released  in the form of a tremendous explosion. It was roughly the size of a house, and had been disengaged from the larger structure that pierced structure of Pharos Sirius.  The woman responsible for the feat stood a good few yalms from the group, visibly unphased by the oncoming catastrophe. Whether she did not think it could harm her or whether she cared, it was difficult to determine. She remained as she always had been, dressed in slim black robes with her grey hair tied into a painful-looking bun. Jet black eyes peered from her sallow face, presenting the gaggle of adventurers with haughty dismissal.
From the top of a nearby cliff, a man dressed in ragged black leathers crouched and observed the dire spectacle. His collar was drawn up to the bridge of his nose, leaving only night-black eyes peering from under a rather messy mop of black hair.  Joshua Black knew all too well that the corrupted crystal's fall would obliterate the group of Astral Agents, despite the glittering linked hexagons erected by the yellow-haired miqo'te conjurer. I'sen, his name was? Something like that. Regardless of how well that shield had been serving them during the battle, it would do nothing against the sheer volume of energy about to be  released.  The miqo'te thaumaturge next to him seemed to know better than to lob any fire, ice or thunder at it, at least. They had only ticks to take action -- but there was no action that could save them...save from Joshua himself.Â
Using the strange proficiency at teleporting that his unique and hard-gained abilities had afforded him, he vanished from his little vantage point, and appeared on the surface of the sparking, crackling crystal. It had hurt to materialize upon the thing, excruciatingly so. Still, what had to be done, had to be done. He couldn't let those poor things die, Mountain had trusted him  with their lives.
He took a look at the woman in black, standing there with aloof expectation, waiting for the thunderous din that would signal the group's end. "...Mother." It was all he could say, and into the word he poured as much distaste as possible. To the group below him, he offered a yell. "Try not to die after this!"
The world dissolved around him, and with it came pain the likes of which he had never known. He had never wanted a painful death, but here it was. At least it wouldn't last long. Where there had been a group of frightened adventurers below him there was now a wide expanse of ocean -- quite clear from the towering crystal-struck lighthouse in the distance. Well, that bit was done.Â
"I'll see you around, Jacob."
The crystal hit the water. With the tremendous explosion, Joshua Black saw no more.
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