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Vale · **09-05-2015, 02:42 AM**

Impurities of the Heart: Part 6

Vale Myr'it Alistair Wright Story Arc

Quote:"Tis' not enough." The merchant stood opposite from Vale, his arms crossed. "I ain't no charity. This sword," He traces his finger along the silver-worked hilt of the ornate blade. "Y'see that? Real silver, that. You won't find another blade like this, especially out here all of places."

Vale makes an annoyed sound in his throat, his eyes flickering from the blade to the merchant. "You already have all of my gil... and even several books from The Gubal Library. Thal's balls, one of 'em is from the restricted section! You can sell them in Ul'dah and make four times what you sold this sword for!"

A bead of sweat rolled down the merchant's nose and dropped to the ground as he shook his head. "Can't sell these. More as like to get them confiscated before I see a single gil. No, if you want this sword you're going to need to give me something else."

With a sigh, Vale unstraps his two-handed sword from his back and sets it onto the counter. "I'll give you this, as well. This sword may not be as fancy, but... it's master crafted. Never lost its edge and has slain two griffins since I've had it."

The merchant's eyebrows raised at the last part. "Two griffins, eh?" He uncrossed his arms and bent forward to inspect the blade. After carefully testing the edge and turning the sword over several times he returned his gaze to Vale. "Tis' a sword made for killing, that I can rightly see. Tell me, what would make you want to give up such a blade for one so... fancy? Doesn't seem like your sort of style, if you don't mind me saying so."

Vale shook his head, a smile on his face. "Not too long ago I would've said you were right, but my time in the library made me realize something. Let's just say that my needs have... evolved."

Several moments went by, the silence staring at Vale in silence. Finally, he gave a slow nod. "Fine. The gil, sword and books for this and..." He reaches behind the counter and pulls out a silver-worked shield with the face of a lion etched into the metal. "You'll need this too. One-handed swords don't have the reach of what you're used to. This'll help keep you alive."

With a nod, Vale takes the sword rubs his fingers across the flat edge of the blade. He eyes the gem encased in the hilt and slides the sword into its sheathe before strapping it to his waist. The shield he straps onto his back, the lightness compared to his old sword still not feeling quite right to him. Vale gazes at his old two-handed sword with a twinge of sadness as the merchant heaves it off the counter and lays it against the rack with his other weapons. "May you protect another as you have me all this time, my friend," Vale mutters under his breath and turns from the merchant stall.

He hoists his bag of supplies over his shoulder and walks outside of the ruined city. The sound of cart wheels bumping down the road, merchants trying to shout over one another, and goblins high-pitched voices as they excitedly scramble over some new trinket all fade away as Vale walks by himself. When all has faded to silence and only the sound of his own breath and footsteps fill his ears, Vale turns off the road towards a ruined structure and sets his supplies down. He gazes around him and nods. "This'll do."

Vale unsheathes his sword and pulls the shield from his back. He sets them on the ground in front of him and traces his fingers along the etchings on each. It wasn't gold, but the books had said that silver should work as well. "Hopefully, anyway." Vale reaches into his pocket and takes out his notebook. Flipping through the note-filled pages, he finally finds the page he was looking for. "Precious metals, gold and silver for example, will allow the aether to travel. Add a gem for enhanced affects," Vale reads to himself. He sets the notebook down next to him, reading over the instructions once more. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before laying his hands flat on the sword and shield and closing his eyes.

A flame springs to life in Vale's mind, but unlike before he keeps his emotions to himself. He snuffs the flame out and allows the fear and pain in his heart to permeate through him. A peace, of sorts, settles over him as the realization hits him. "All this time I've been running from my own feelings; pushing them away. I was weak because I couldn't come to terms with the fear in my heart, and the rage that slithered inside of me. But now..."

He conjures images from his childhood in his mind, watches himself from afar as years later he slays Garlean soldiers mercilessly. Salty tears stream down his face, leaving streaks through the dirt as his sister is dragged off. The whisper of Eleni's arrow as it soars through the air and lodges itself into the chest of his mentor. A stream of images flash through his mind like the endless crash of the sea. Vale sets his jaw and delves deep inside himself. He directs the chaotic flow, wrapping it around itself and pushing it upwards. A shape begins to form, long and thin, seemingly with a life of its own. Vale smiles sadly as the last of his painful memories fall into place. "...Now, instead of feeding my pain and hurt to the fire... I shall become the flame itself!"

Where before a bright flame had flickered in his mind, now a dark one took its place. It flickered evily, writhing and pulsing with a life of its own. Vale slowly wraps his hands around the flame, a burning sensation in his mind as it sears his flesh. He resists the urge to let go, knowing that if he did so he would lose himself to this darkness, and lets out a roar as he rips the corrupted flame from his mind and channels it through his fingers.

His eyes pop open as the last of the flame gutters out in his mind. Vale glances down at the sword and shield before him in wonder. Where before there had been plain metal, now a deep-red fire all its own snaked its way through and across the blade and shield. He reached out carefully, running his fingers across the hilt, but the metal was cold to the touch. Gripping the hilt in his hand, Vale pushes himself onto his feet and swings the blade in an arc before him. It slashes the air, a trail of red fading behind it. He swings the blade downward towards a corner of the ruined wall and the blade slices through the stone with ease. Vale stares at the blade in awe, a slow smile spreading across his face. He sheathes the blade and picks up the shield, his fingers tracing the aether as it courses through the metal.Â

"Finally," He says to himself. "Finally, I've found my answer. All these years and it was right in front of me." He straps the shield onto his back and turns towards the road. "Now I'm ready for you, Alistair. Do what you will." Vale hoists the sack of supplies over his shoulder once more and steps onto the road. He looks both ways before turning and taking the first step towards home.

The End.

Impurities of the Heart [CLOSED]

RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes