Overlooking Ruins [Closed]

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Franz had taken to revisiting the ruins of Nym on multiple occasions now. Each time, a few more details studied. Possibly something new to learn. There was nothing quite like it anywhere else. Not that he was aware of.

 

As he sat on the ledge overlooking the floating ruins of a city long since destroyed, he flipped through the pages of his notebook. Mostly scribbled ideas or methods. Attempted geometries to reproduce the effects of the floating landmasses. No amount of Garlean pride could disinterest him.

 

Opening another book, one on more Allagan practices, there was something on spells for levitation, but nothing of how it was executed.

 

He simply sat in place, flipping through pages trying to find connections.

 

"Well if the Allags had done it..."

[Desu Nee]

"I highly doubt the Allags are involved in this..."

 

Quki approaches the same spot Franz overlooks the city. Since the day she met, her interest in ruins, and Eorzea in general took a much deeper level, alright, as well as her visits to the ruins much more often. Frankly, weeks later she would hava never been interested in history in general...but, obviously, things can change really fast

 

" The Allagans rose during the Third Austral Era, and ended in the fourth...The Nyms were the "face" of the Fifth Austral Era, per see. I've made some fact checking from what I could find, the cities actually floated before...mayhaps as a defense mechanism, and flaunting superioty against their invaders. It WAS a pretty chaotic period, after all"

 

She drops down from her Chocobo, with a pleasant smile, taking off her googles, and dusting her robe.

 

" Nice to see you again, Franz..."

[Unnamed Mercenary]

"It's good to see you again as well, Miss Quki."

 

"But I wouldn't say the Allags were involved, just perhaps...a crossover of magic? It doesn't seem too out of reach that the Nymians may have learned something from them."

 

"Even still- What we do know of the War of Magi means their defenses did not last particularly long. A shame."

[Desu Nee]

She sits down, tapping her chin...

 

"Mayhaps. The Allag Empire ended with a cataclysm of land, so the next big city being airborne is maybe too poetical."

 

She does chuckle a bit when the War of Magi is mentioned...

 

"Have you ever seen some thaumaturges? They would gladly burn anything that moves if they had their way. A war of wizards can go horrible wrong very...very fast"

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Franz grimaced slightly. "I've known a few. It's always wonderful to have a fireball come flying at your face." He would of course leave out important details, such as the fireball being completely deserved.

 

"Most are fairly scared of combat, however. It doesn't take much to scare off the ones in the Ul'dahn guild."

 

He somewhat hummed in a thought. "But a war of mages. Must have been an interesting fight. Most of my experience has been with physical combat, no magic."

[Desu Nee]

" Or terrifying. Meteors, earthquakes, a rain of fire and ice, destroying all that laid beneath, be friend or foe..."

 

She shuffles a bit...

 

" No wonder it ended the era by itself. The Black and White Wizards sucked the land dry of magic..."

[Unnamed Mercenary]

"I thought it was a great flood from the Elementals."

 

Turning to face her, "regardless of how it ended, the events leading up can explain much about each school of magic. It's interesting."

 

He lightly grasped one if him books.

 

"Arcana is enough for me. It best fits the kind of magic I would want to cast. Simple. Complex. Adjustable. It's just a matter of arranging the geometries and providing aether."

 

"Do you have a preferred kind?"

[Desu Nee]

"I thought it was a great flood from the Elementals."

 

Turning to face her, "regardless of how it ended, the events leading up can explain much about each school of magic. It's interesting."

 

He lightly grasped one if him books.

 

"Arcana is enough for me. It best fits the kind of magic I would want to cast. Simple. Complex. Adjustable. It's just a matter of arranging the geometries and providing aether."

 

"Do you have a preferred kind?"

"I think the flood was more of an official, wash the slate clean end. The land was pretty much dead after the War of Magi. Like when you cremate a body..."

 

She turns to Franz, rubbing her chin slighty, looking around in deep thought...

 

" I say it really depends. Arcanima is very much flexible indeed, both for studies, offensive and defensive uses, but I find thaumaturge much more...practical, and more accessible. An arcanist must always keep a cool head, or else the Arcana can go horribly wrong. A Thaumaturge just needs to see something burning and or freezing, and it will burn and or freeze. But then again, that's a biased opinion of someone more versed in Thaumaturgy than in the Arcana. "

 

She then looks up, grimacing...

 

"I can't say however that I'm a fan of conjury in any sense of the word, specially the Gridanian conjurers. The thought that your life may depend on the whims of an entity that could possibly care less about you never sat well with me...and of course, personal experiences added to my dislike."

 

She then finally finishes, looking at Franz

 

"

And of course, you have the Sharlayan created, Ishgardian aprimorated Astrology. Hopefully, I will live to see it's books. "

[Unnamed Mercenary]

"This is, assuming, Ishgard opens its gates. I do not forsee it happening any time soon. The people are...stubborn."

 

Franz seemed to nod to himself at the word. He knew firsthand how stubborn certain Ishgardian people could be, and wanted nothing to do with it, their beliefs, or their war.

 

"But I suppose if they did, it could be interesting. No other land relies so heavily on the ability to use aether as those on Aldenard."

[Desu Nee]

" You would be surprised. With the Dravanians moving, and the incident at the Steps of Faith..."

 

She gives a loud sigh, shuddering a bit, but smirks back...

 

"It's a matter of time until they open out of desperation."

[Unnamed Mercenary]

"I'd almost like to see that."

 

The thought that Ishgard might actually let foreigners in was amusing. Dreaded nonetheless by his past, but amusing.

 

"As long as they don't expect people to fight their war for them..."

[Desu Nee]

" And that would be the adventurers part, not...completely mine "

 

She shrugs again, giving a single clap on her hands

 

" Are you some sort of Scholar Community Franz? I've been curious since our last meeting after all! "

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Franz couldn't help but let out some laughter.

 

"No, I'm nothing of the sort. I'm just someone with interest in all of this. It is not my goal in life to learn and understand. I research to pass the time."

 

"Was there something that came off that way?"

[Desu Nee]

Franz couldn't help but let out some laughter.

 

"No, I'm nothing of the sort. I'm just someone with interest in all of this. It is not my goal in life to learn and understand. I research to pass the time."

 

"Was there something that came off that way?"

She shrugs absently minded.

 

"Sorta. Honestly, what I desired most to seeing you was to thank you, frankly"

 

She has a small smile, and waves around the ruins of Nym

 

"You made me realize what I want to do with my life. Sorta. It's funny, really. But now I'm curious of what you do for a living..."

[Unnamed Mercenary]

An oddly personal question for someone he'd only met a few times.

 

Surely, I cannot tell her much. Nothing Garlean. Nothing related to the war. Nothing related to the army. Nothing related to the Experiment. Nothing about working with terrorists. Or murderers. Or the other widely-known scum of Ul'dah. There were so many little secrets to keep. Jobs and events that had shaped him as a person, but could never see the light of day.

 

"I've had many jobs in the past. I suppose it's easiest to say that I travel around often."

 

He took a moment to admire how nice a vague comment could be.

 

"Most recently, I had been a freelance mercenary. After that....I've mostly just been wandering between the cities. And of course, pondering all of this." He pointed to the ruins.

[Desu Nee]

She crosses her arms, frowning a bit. Of course, skeletons in the closet. Disturbingly common around...well, pretty much everyone she ever met since she left Ul'dah as a giless thaumaturge, to whom she is today. She flexes her hand absently minded, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. But she won't press further no...she's interested in Franz. The tall, totally-a-highlander caught her curiosity ever since their first met, she can remember just like it was yesterday...

 

It was a week ago, she's just one obsessive Lala.

 

She sits down, easening her expression. Testing of waters, highly unsucessful, very blatant vague answer given. She gives too much for too little...

 

" The little test about Aetherical Gravity failed. Can't be it. "

 

She would let this slide for now, but she wouldn't forget...no. There's a special place in the seven hells to anyone that's vague with Ququki Quki.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

"Howso? It seemed rather plausible, hadn't it?"

 

He was perhaps, feeling slightly guilty about giving such a vague answer. But he knew better than to openly admit so many of the things he had been. At least, he hoped he did.

 

She'd likely find out eventually. Maybe there would be less issues letting her find out about who he was instead of the deluge of information that would lead a person away.

 

"So why wouldn't a gravity spell work?"

[Desu Nee]

" The numbers are way too big. Only a place like Mor Dhona could keep this through sheer aetherical force. Also, it doesn't explain why the islands doesn't float higher and higher, like an Iceberg on the sea "

 

She shrugs, giving him the scrolls

 

" You can check it if you want. Maybe there's something I'm not seeing."

[Unnamed Mercenary]

"Are you able to make any readings on the aetherial force of the crystals?"

 

A simple enough question. "While I can pass as a decent arcanist, my abilities to read or sense aether is nearly nonexistent." He wasn't lying, at least. No pure-blooded Garlean could make use of aether. Wasn't he enough of an abomination?

 

He opened the scrolls, laying them out to look at each of the calculations.

 

"No...these, the math checks out. A simple gravity spell should not be enough to sustain the landmasses. If we can assume that they've managed to find some sort of equilibrium, that would at least explain why they do not float any higher, but manage to stay relatively in place."

 

He scribbled a few notes into his own book.

 

"For now, I can only assume there is a stronger spell at work. The crystals attached to each island. They appear to shift from one aspect to another. It's possible that they could be the key to this, but it may be something beyond my understanding. The Nymians were noted to be quite advanced in their skills. Quite a few books discuss how a single scholar could provide support for an entire troop of fighters."

 

"There could be more to it than what we see."

[Desu Nee]

" I think the answer lies inside, mayhaps? "

 

She points to the floating islands, thoughtful

 

" I think we need an inside reading of those to be sure. I've got some friends who can borrow us Aether Readers, maybe we can crack the issue at hand..."

[Unnamed Mercenary]

"It would certainly be an interesting endeavor."

 

It was enjoyable to let go of the other matters he should have deemed important. His problems could wait. It was simply two people interested in some floating rocks and how the rocks managed to float. Just simple science. And I suppose magic, as well. Something needs to explain why these things are in the air, and it's surely not magitek.

 

"When should we begin?"

[Desu Nee]

" Maybe tomorrow. I need to borrow some equipment from the University of Aether, more specifically those Aether Readers. Never mind the potential of nasty...things being inside, of course. "

 

She smirks at the thought, giggling

 

" Tomorrow by morning seems good to you? "

[Unnamed Mercenary]

The corners of his mouth rose into a little grin.

 

"I'll be sure to bring my axe then. Just in case."

 

The prospect of actually examining some ruins was very interesting. He was aware of the few expeditions of a person he had met in passing. Being able to see some of the Nymian structures up close was going to make for good time. He briefly wondered aloud some what-ifs.

 

"Perhaps we'll find some older relics while we're at it. ...will you want any additional backup? I may know a few people who could be interested in the expedition."

[Desu Nee]

The corners of his mouth rose into a little grin.

 

"I'll be sure to bring my axe then. Just in case."

 

The prospect of actually examining some ruins was very interesting. He was aware of the few expeditions of a person he had met in passing. Being able to see some of the Nymian structures up close was going to make for good time. He briefly wondered aloud some what-ifs.

 

"Perhaps we'll find some older relics while we're at it. ...will you want any additional backup? I may know a few people who could be interested in the expedition."

Quki smiles broadly, already running situations on her head

 

"Yes, it would be very appreciated."

 

She gives a loud whistle, her chocobo already dashing towards her master

 

" I should be pulling my strings now. Want to choose a place to meet? "

[Unnamed Mercenary]

"How about at Camp Bronze Lake? Plenty of ruins around it and enough adventurers for anything stupid to happen."

 

He chuckled to himself. "Maybe I'll take a nap in the hot springs first".

 

As the lalafell mounted her chocobo, he game a small wave and smile. It was nice to see people happy. And if he could pass off as a researcher, maybe he could put his past behind him for the time being. Nobody needed a middle-aged mercenary when there were plenty of reckless adventurers to do their bidding.