Fall from grace
Poe had been sitting in her hammock, lounging in the window of Relan’s storefront for half the sun’s time in the sky. Not because she was nervous, Poe refused to believe that was a factor. Flopping to her side, the hammock swaying light, her gaze settled on the wooden box sitting on Relan’s table. The Mender’s box.Her finger’s grasped the small locket Ry had gifted to her and she nodded. Getting herself up and out of the hammock, she walked to the table, eyes focused. Poe scooped the box up, tucking it safely into her satchel. Writing out a short note, it read:
Ry –
Joundi was approached by the very same mage looking for Lina. I fear we must hasten our efforts to see if the Padjals will help. I have left a message for Lan-I-Mata and I am heading to Gridania now to speak with the Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna. I will return with word if the Padjals will lend aid.
-Poe
Exiting Relan’s shop as she yanked her jacket on, Poe located a Moogle and gave them the instructions to deliver the note to Ry. Anxiously, she rubbed her hands together and she found a local mage who could get her to Gridania quickly.
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Arriving in Gridania, Poe hurried along, one hand clutched to her satchel. She kept her gaze low, passing through the crowded streets until she arrived. Nervously swallowing, she entered the building. Two Twin Adders nodded to her, the small waiting room still spacious and well lit. The Elezen Adder opened the engraved door into the adjoining room, motioning to Poe. Her eyes wide, Poe stood, “For me?â€
The other Adder, a Midlander nodded, “She is waiting to see you.â€
Poe swallowed nervously, “Of course.†Smoothing the front of her jacket once more, nervously touching her satchel, she strode through the door.
The first thing Poe noted was the plants. Large ferns, beautiful flowers, the room was filled with foliage. Elder Seedseer was looking out a window that had a view of the waterfall in the center of town. She turned, offering a warm smile, “Poe Lhyzeal.â€
Poe immediately felt her knees begin to shake and she offered a bow, “Elder Seedseer, thank you for seeing me.â€
Kan-E-Senna motioned for Poe to sit, the Padjal herself sitting in an oversized chair made of silk, “I don’t get requests to speak with those who have trained as high as you every day. I am interested.â€
Poe nodded as she sat in an ornate wooden chair, swallowing as she placed her satchel in her lap. “I came to ask for help.â€
Kan-E-Senna smiled, “What kind of help are you looking for?â€
Poe took a long breath, words suddenly bursting from her lips. “It’s my friends. They are like my family, well, they are the crew, but really friends and I love them like family. But that isn’t why I am here. I mean-“
Kan-E-Senna raised a brow and lifted her hand, motioning Poe to stop, “Perhaps I shall order us some tea. You can take a moment.†Poe’s face immediately turned a hot red and she nodded, gaze falling to her lap. Kan-E-Senna walked out of the room, closing the room behind her.
Poe sighed, flopping further down in the chair, her hands resting on her satchel. Pulling the box out, she looked down at it in her hands. It contained everything.
The door opened, Kan-E-Senna and the two Adders came back inside. The door was firmly shut behind them. Poe glanced between the three, her eyes a bit wary. Looking back to Elder Seedseer, Poe’s voice was barely above a whisper, “What is going on?â€
The two Adder’s shifted their weight, expressions neutral. Kan-E-Senna sat back down in her overstuffed chair, “I wanted to make sure I did indeed sense what you have brought with you. I needed a moment to clear myself.â€
Poe glanced down to the box and back up at Kan-E-Senna, stunned, “You could sense the…Sacred Willow?â€
The Padjal sat a moment, staring back intently at Poe before answering. “Of course I can.†Kan-E-Senna adjusted the sleeve of her robes, her gaze still on Poe, finally speaking again, “There had been no word about a new Mender for several cycles. There have always been three….but the last six cycles, only two.â€
Poe nodded, leaning towards the Padjal, her hands shaking, “I brought it…to see if you could help.â€
Kan-E-Senna arched a delicate brow, “I sense your heart and intentions pure. What is this help you seek?â€
Poe didn’t speak immediately. She didn’t know what to say, what was too much information to share? Explain all of Lina’s story, no, that would take too long. Joundi had requested she not mention him by name. Poe sighed, realizing suddenly the Elder Seedseer was still waiting for a response. Nervously smiling, Poe nodded, “I have a friend whose life has been in danger. There are some who wish harm to her. Those behind it are using the rest of my friends, attempting to coerce them into giving her over. One of these friends who has recently been pressured has been…cursed, magic of some sort. He is incapable of receiving healing from magic.â€
At first Kan-E-Senna’s face was one of caring, understanding. But once Poe started to describe Joundi, the Padjal’s eyes seemed to ice over, “So are you coming to ask for protection for your one friend or aid to help heal the other?â€
Poe looked flustered, bowing her a head, “I came to ask primarily for the friend who needs aid. With him fully healed, I believe our crew could continue to protect our friend from those that hunt her.â€
The Padjal’s eyes fell to the wooden box in Poe’s grasp, “And so you brought a piece of the Sacred Willow….to ask me to look the other way and aid him.†Poe nervously shook her head. She wasn’t sure if the Padjal had realized who she was speaking of, but she sensed the anger starting to brew.
“That wasn’t it at all. I felt ready, I had started to read through the information she left for me. I brought this in good faith, I realize it’s importance to Padjals, to the White Mages. I am asking for a trade, a piece of the wood for your help with my frie-“
“Enough!â€
Poe shut her mouth, biting her lip nervously. Kan-E-Senna rose to her feet. Poe could hear the Adders shifting their weight behind her ear. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed they looked tense. The Padjal moved to stand before Poe, her expression heavy, “Poe Lhyzeal. I hearby recant your membership to the Conjurer’s Guild and will no longer be acknowledged as a White Mage.â€
Poe gasped, getting to her feet, “What?!†She felt one of the Adder’s touch her shoulder and she angrily shrugged from their grasp. “What is this about?â€
Kan-E-Senna shook her head, “You have already made choices. You choose to help those that have not always served in Gridania’s best interest. White Mages are no strangers to corruption, but I will not allow this to happen. Per our agreement with the Menders, you will be free to roam our city as long as you continue to serve the Shroud. But hear me when I say I will be watching you.â€
Poe’s large green eyes started to tear up, her ears flopping, “I…I am only trying to help my friends.†The Padjal continued to stand there, shaking her head. Poe meekly picked up the Mender box and tucked it into her satchel. She glanced to the two Adders, nodding as she moved past them to the door. With a hand on the handle, Poe turned to look at the Elder Seedseer once more.
Kan-E-Senna’s face softened and she approached Poe. “I understand you were forced to make a difficult choice without knowing the implications beforehand.†The Padjal canted her head as if debating speaking the next words, “No road is closed to those true of heart. Go speak with Lan-I-Mata.â€
Poe was ushered out the door before she could ask for a clarification. What had just happened? Stripped of her membership, renounced as a white mage…how had this gone so terribly wrong?
