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[ The Topaz Carbuncle chirps in amusement, sitting down to scratch behind one of his ears. ]

Hahah, of course I can! If you can call this talking, that is. Actually, I'm surprised you-

[ Lightning strikes again, this time much closer and brighter. The crash accompanying the strike is followed by a distant growl.

Topaz stands, taking on a somewhat regal air and returning his gaze to Kor. Though his words suddenly sound more urgent, his tone barely changes from its warm and friendly air. ]

As much as I'd like to stand here and chat, this is hardly the place. Whatever it is you're here for, you should do it quickly. [ He bounds over to a nearby passage, pausing to glance back at Kor expectantly. ] I can help you, but first you'll need to tell me why you're here.

[Kor's so baffled by hearing Carbuncle talk that he's not sure how to respond at first. When he finally manages to regain his composure...]

I'm...! [Breathe.] ...Merisia wants me to help her with her "curse". [The way he says that last word carries his doubts as to it really being a curse at all.] Can you help me find it, Carby? Wherever her Echo would be!

Her "Echo"...?

[ Topaz freezes, staring carefully at Kor as he takes in his words. Even as the storm rages overhead, he almost seems like he's looking for something. A few seconds pass before his ears twitch and he glances quietly downward. ]

I see... So this is no coincidence. [ He straightens again, poised and ready to run at any moment. ] You're in luck. What you're looking for isn't far. I can lead you there, but be careful. The closer you get to the truth, the stronger the distortions will get. You'll need more than just your eyes to see.

[ There's a furious screech and a bolt of lightning strikes a wall nearby, sending chunks of rubble tumbling to the ground and revealing a pulsing crystal beneath. Topaz darts towards a different path nearby, stopping in front of it to wait for Kor. ]

Hurry! You can tell me what kind of "help" you intend to offer on the way!

O-okay!

[The lightning strike catches him off-guard, causing him to jump, ironic considering how prevalent lightning and electricity is in his fighting style. ~~You might even say it shocked him.~~ He shakes it off and goes after Topaz, following him down the path.]

Honestly... I haven't really decided what I'll do. Merisia, she... She wants me to get rid of it, and I might be able to, but...

[There's a pause as he regains his composure, swallowing hard.]

A Somatic's job is helping people come to terms with themselves. So what I want to do is help Merisia accept that she has a beautiful gift, not a terrible curse! I want to help her understand it!

[ Topaz tenses when Kor mentions removing the Echo, as though he's just as keen on the idea as Kor himself is. Despite this, he remains patient and attentive, allowing Kor to finish. When Kor is done speaking, some of that tension leaves him, and he chirps in approval. ]

I like your answer, young man, but I wonder if you really know what you're getting into. [ There's a beat as he seems ready to continue that line of thought, but he opts not to...for now. ] Convincing her won't be easy, but if you've made it this far, perhaps you have a chance. Besides, the way to a secret like that won't open for just anyone.

[ Continuing on, Topaz leads Kor down a winding path through the twisted streets of Ul'dah, the storm raging overhead and occasionally striking either behind them or at the walls on either side. The further they go down the road, the more crystalline its appearance becomes. Fortunately it actually is crystal this time, and not ice.

And just as Topaz said, it isn't long before the end of the road arrives. There's a small, unassuming wooden door to their left near a dead end, flickering in and out of existence and only solidifying as Kor draws near. Topaz skids to a stop in front of it. ]

It should be through here.

[ There's another echoing growl, and storm once more strikes the path behind them, leaving a smoking crater. Bits of crystal peek out of the damaged street, some of them shifting from a vivid navy blue to a sickly dark yellow. Another beastly silhouette appears nearby in the flash of lightning...was it closer this time?...but it's gone in the blink of an eye. ]

[Kor smiles fondly at Topaz's commentary, thinking back on everything he's been through with Merisia over the past year or so.]

Heh... Convincing her's never easy, but never giving up on her is why I've made it as far as I have with her.

[As they arrive to the destination, Kor gets a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. There was something foreboding about this place right now, the way things had begun changing. But it was surely also the sign that this is where he needed to be. The most well-guarded secrets were well-guarded for a reason, after all.

He lingers in front of the door, not yet going in.]

Merisia's told me bits and pieces, but... Not the whole thing. Can you tell me why she hates the Echo so much, Carby?

[he's probably heard enough from Merisia to be able to piece it all together himself, but there might be a difference between how Merisia on the surface perceive it, and how her subconscious would.]

[ Topaz Carbuncle dips his head low, his eyes closing and his ears drooping. He's eager to get away from this storm, but...well, answering Kor's question will have to come first. ]

She doesn't...hate it, necessarily. She's afraid of it.

[ The storm churns overhead, and Topaz offers Kor a sincere look. As sincere as a Carbuncle can, anyway. ]

There's too much that she doesn't know about it. Everything it can do, everything it does to her... She scarcely even knows when she acquired it. She has no control over its powers to speak of, and the visions occur without warning. But one of her greatest fears is that it might somehow bring harm to herself, or to those she's come to care about...and there would be little that she can do to stop it. [ He shakes his head. ] Uncertainty has always been one of Merisia's greatest enemies. Not knowing if she can trust a stranger is difficult enough, but that's something she can handle. Not knowing if she can trust her own power, well... There's not much you can do to escape something that's a part of you, is there?

[ If anything, Topaz seems to agree more with Kor's sentiments than Merisia's, judging from his warm tone. Even so, there's still a sadness to his words, a level of concern that isn't outright stated, but still eager to make itself known. ]

If you really can help her...maybe that'll heal the damage it's already wrought.

[A fear of hurting others with her power... Kor can understand that sentiment. It's one of the biggest dangers of being a Somatic, after all. Having the power to correct a person's Spiria with your Soma also means you invariably have the power to damage their Spiria. Somatics are supposed to take a creed to help others, but his encounters with Striegov have taught him that evil Somatics do exist.

But fearing your gift and fearing what you can do with your gift are two very different things. You have the power to choose how you use your power, that's what Kor believes. Merisia could use the Echo to do terrible things, or she could use it to do the kinds of things Kor envisions it to be capable of.]

I'll do whatever I can help her, and with style, I might add! That's the Kor Meteor way! [No trying to help her, only actually helping her.]

[ Topaz Carbuncle lets out a trill of joyful approval and he straightens up, waving his tails. ]

Hahahah! That's the spirit! If your actions are as genuine as your words are, then we've got little to worry about.

[ That storm isn't too happy about going ignored, unfortunately. There's a loud - and close - crash of lightning, and there's a loud snarl, almost as if the beast it belongs to is mere inches away...but the beast in question is nowhere to be seen. The crystal visible in the area continues to shift to the same sickly yellow shade, while several few of them stubbornly remain blue, even glowing brighter in protest. ]

I'm afraid we've lingered long enough. Unless you want to make this place your grave, I'd suggest we get moving!

[ Topaz waits anxiously next to the door for Kor to hurry in...not that anything will be terribly visible once inside, as it's pitch-black. One or two lit torches can be seen nearby, but their light is hardly enough to illuminate whatever room they're in. There does seem to be a faint white glow in the distance, coming through what looks like a corridor, but otherwise it's impossible to see anything...for now. ]

[Yeah, Kor makes it a policy of his to not die inside the Spirias he's traversing, so he wastes no time in heeding Topaz's warnings. He pushes open the door and hurries inside, only to be greeted by near total darkness. He reaches over and grabs one of the torches, trying to use it to illuminate the area, but even that didn't seem to help anywhere near enough, almost like the darkness was just eating the light. There was that glow in the distance, though. His destination, maybe?]

I guess there's no way to make this any brighter, huh?

[ Topaz Carbuncle shakes off, trotting a few paces ahead. ]

There's always a way to bring light to darkness. It's like I said: you'll need more than your eyes to see. But, I'm afraid I have one more question for you.

[ Topaz sits down calmly. It certainly won't do to stumble around in the dark, and they really should keep moving, but there's something he needs to take care of first. A chill passes through the air, accompanied by a soft pulse of static. Several pairs of glowing blue eyes appear in the darkness, staring intently at Kor. Topaz either doesn't notice them, or doesn't seem to care, and he continues. ]

Merisia does everything she can to protect herself, and that includes hiding these things away from even those she would trust with her life. The fact that you could even open that door, let alone see it, is no small feat. She may trust you and see you as a friend, but if she's misplacing that trust...

[ He lets those words sit for a moment, the silence filled with nothing but a soft crystalline hum. Although his words are stern, the warm tone never leaves Topaz's voice. If anything, he seems more concerned than accusatory. ]

You say it's a Somatic's job to help people come to terms with themselves, but is that the only reason you're here? Who is Merisia to you? Just another patient? A broken tool to fix? Or is there something else in your heart that drove you all the way into this abyss to help her?

[More than your eyes to see, huh... Kor closes his eyes for the moment, trying to focus his other senses, but also to block out everything that's going on in the room so he could think more clearly.

Topaz posed an interesting question, certainly one that could trip up most people. But for Kor? The answer was simple and straightforward.]

It's the job of a Somatic to help people, yeah. But that's got nothing to do with why I'm here, besides the fact that I'm a Somatic. The truth is, it's the job of Kor Meteor to always help his friends when they need him. That's all there is to it. Merisia's my friend, so I'm helping her. I don't have any motive besides that.

[ The silence lingers for a moment longer, allowing Kor's words to echo in the darkness. Then, finally, Topaz softly trills in approval. ]

That's just what we need. Did you all hear that? We've got nothing to worry about.

[ The watchful eyes widen and shimmer, then scurry away. Almost on cue, the lights from the torches brighten, and the room illuminates. It's reminiscent of an old ruin made of stone and hidden away in a cavern, with a few chambers branching off from the main hall where Kor stands; in other words, the perfect place for an adventurer to explore. Though old, there's a welcoming warmth that fills the area as the light does. Further ahead, where the light is, the stone begins to fracture off, floating in what appears to be an otherworldy void. It's almost like that part of the ruins simply doesn't belong, yet it's meshed itself with them and made itself at home regardless.

And yet, with all the warmth, the static remains in the air...and it grows stronger. ]

...something isn't right... [ Topaz shifts uneasily, pawing at the ground. ] What you're looking for is just ahead, Kor. Just be careful. I can guide you, but I'm afraid I can't protect you from what lies ahead.

[Kor watches at the room suddenly brightens up, revealing its true form as an old catacomb. He kicks the ground with the toe of his boot, just to make sure it's stable. Everything seems okay, at least in this part.]

Don't worry, whatever's ahead, I can take of myself.

[He starts heading on ahead, going towards the light.]

Besides, I should be protecting you here, you're an important part of Merisia.

[ Topaz pauses thoughtfully at Kor's reply before chirping happily. ]

So I am... Thank you, Kor.

[ That said, he trots happily next to Kor, picking up his pace to walk in front of him once they near the light.

Past the fractured-off area, it seems that there's nothing but an enormous, blue abyss and nothing else. Despite the lack of visible ground, however, Topaz keeps right on walking. Small ripples of light beneath his feet signify that it's totally possible to walk onward, and if anything it's like walking on marble.

It doesn't take long for the main feature of this strange place to come into view: an enormous, sparkling crystal. Though not nearly the size of what it mimics, it's easily the size of a large building, dwarfing Kor and his guide. The void around it swirls with calm and beautiful light, the air filled with a reassuring and welcoming warmth. It's almost like this place is some sort of secret safe haven, or a familiar place, yet filled with countless secrets and mysteries.

And so it remains for several long seconds, allowing a precious moment of respite before a familiar snarl resonates from behind them. A huge shadow leaps overhead from behind the two, landing neatly between Kor and the crystal. It's a small, shadowy behemoth, its entire body cloaked in darkness and black sparks of electricity. Its sparks taint the air with an almost tangible fear and confusion, sickly yellow eyes stare wide at both intruders. Topaz is the first to step forward. ]

Damn it all, it followed us all the way here! Hurry, you have to-

[ Topaz doesn't get a chance to explain. The monster lunges forward, snatching Topaz up in his jaws and hurling him aside like a rag doll. Topaz shrieks, tumbling to the ground and unable to push himself to his feet right away. The beast then turns its eyes on Kor, its fangs bared, but it doesn't move to strike...not now, anyway.

But who knows how long that will last... ]

[Kor marvels in awe at the sight of the large crystal they arrive to. It somewhat reminded him of a large willstone, like the one back in Dronning. But to compare it to such would be truly undermining the majesty this thing carried. It was inspiring and comforting just being in its presence. But the time he has to appreciate this thing was short-lived, as the behemoth descends.]

--! Watch out!

[Kor stands by and watches in horror as Topaz is pounced upon. He cries out in shock for his little furry friend, rushing over to him with due haste.]

Carby! Are you okay?!

[He stands between Topaz and the behemoth now, keeping his guard up but not drawing his weapon. Not yet, at least.]

Carby, you know what this thing is? What the heck's going on?

[ Luckily, it looks like Topaz hasn't been injured too badly. He trembles a bit, pushing himself back to his feet, but he hardly looks ready for another blow. ]

Why...do you keep calling me that?

[ The beast doesn't stalk closer, instead moving to place itself between Kor and the enormous crystal. Though its fangs are bared and its claws ready to strike at any moment, it almost looks as though it's shrinking away from them...almost cowering, despite its offense earlier and the continued jabs of lightning. A thick and unsettling aura of fear fills the air, overwhelming the comforting light of the crystal. ]

It showed up at the same time that storm did. Usually it keeps to itself, but it's been lashing out at us more and more as the storm gets worse.

[ Only now does the beast decide to stalk closer. As it does, its appearance briefly flickers into other images - a feline monster with long whiskers, a hooded assassin wielding dual daggers, even Kor himself - for mere seconds before it reverts to being a shadowy beast. Topaz does his best to stand up straight, but he's still wincing in pain. ]

If you want to finish that mission of yours, you'll have to calm that thing down first!

Why? [It seemed like such an odd question to ask.] It's because you're Carbuncle! Carby's a fun nickname for that, that's all!

[He smiles briefly back at Topaz, before turning his attention to the beast. Its behavior was strange. It wasn't acting aggressive, behaving more like a cornered scared animal than one on the hunt. But once he sees it changing forms, even taking on his own appearance, things finally start to click in his head.

This beast didn't "show up" here, did it? It's part of Merisia's Spiria, representing part of herself. Her fears, maybe? A lot of Merisia's distrustful nature did seem to stem from fear, after all...

Kor lowers his arms now, dropping his guard and leaving himself open. He speaks with a calm, even voice.]

It's okay... I'm not going to hurt you.

[ Topaz doesn't offer a response to Kor right away, opting instead to stare quietly as his words sink in. Then, there's a flicker of realization, soon replaced by worry, and he remains still and quiet. ]

Carbuncle? I guess that makes sense...

[ The beast hesitates, apparently caught off guard by Kor's calm gesture. The electricity coursing over its body wavers, lessening for a moment.

Of course, that moment of peace only lasts for a moment before the beast lets out another snarl, its eyes still wide in terror, fangs still bared. It's able to speak as well, but it's hard to pin down whose voice it resembles; it's as though there are multiple people all shouting at once: ]

NO. GET BACK. DESTROY IT. DESTROY IT!!!

[ It certainly is trying to put on a show of intimidation, but neither does the beast want to get anywhere near Kor. Still, Kor does have its attention. The electricity around the beast and prickling through the air seem to waver for a moment as well. It's a start, but the monster still refuses to budge. ]

[Kor glances back briefly again at Topaz, his reaction piquing his intrigue. He had his suspicions there was more to the carbuncle than could be seen, but...

...Well, they could talk about Topaz's identity later. He turns his attentions back to the beast.]

I'm not here to destroy anything. [He keeps up that calm tone, making no efforts to move forward or advance.] I just want to help. That's all.

YOU CAN HELP BY DESTROYING IT!

[ The shadowy monster bristles visibly, snarling and straightening in a show of intimidation...which fails moments later when it takes a hesitant step back, its appearance once more flickering between various forms. Still, its gaze is locked firmly onto Kor. ]

IT'S TOO DANGEROUS. MIGHT HURT SOMEONE. KEEPS US FROM HURTING THEM. NOT SAFE. ONLY SAFE PLACE. DESTROYING IT IS TOO RISKY. IT HAS TO BE DESTROYED!

[ Well, someone sure can't make up their mind today. As conflicting as its statements may be, they're all still reasons to be afraid of the same thing. Its unsteady form finally settles on a partly-crystalized version of Kor, weapon drawn.

Topaz doesn't move much, and the whine he lets out is weak and quiet, but he manages to gently nudge the back of Kor's leg before he loses his footing again. Meanwhile, the beast continues, its voice beginning to falter. ]

YOU, TOO. YOU'RE dangerous. You can HURT us.

[Kor's eyes go wide when the beast finally takes on a form identical to his, but he doesn't back down, nor does he choose to draw his own weapon.]

You're right, I can hurt people with my powers. Being a Somatic means you have the power to hurt or help someone. And every time, I'll always choose to help! No matter what's at stake, I'll help anybody who needs me!

[It's here that he takes a determined step forward.]

This Echo power that Merisia has... There's still a lot I don't get about it... But what I do get is that it's the same! With the Echo, Merisia can cause a lot of hurt if she wants to. But she can do a lot of good with it too. It's all in how she chooses to use it. And that's why I'm here! I want to help Merisia! I want to help her figure out how to make that choice!

[ The shadow pauses for a moment as Kor speaks, the wide-eyed expression of fear fading and taking some of that intimidation with it. The darkness cloaking it fades a little, and at first, it's silent. It seems something Kor is doing is getting through. Though it flinches a little as Kor approaches, it doesn't back away. In fact, it even takes its own step forward. Hesitant and unsure, but there's a glimmer of recognition and trust.

...but as Kor continues on, the fear comes back. ]

No way to use it. IT CAN'T.

[ It casts a fearful look to the crystal behind it, but doesn't move. As afraid as the beast is of both the crystal and the intruder trying to get to it, it's still intent on barring the way. Once more, its form destabilizes, but if Kor looks closely and is quick to catch it, the beast's form lingers for a split second on a fully-crystallized version of Merisia herself. ]

Can't be controlled. Or predicted. Or used. The Echo is the Echo. IT'S JUST HERE. No choice. Not safe. DON'T WANT IT!

[ The beast lets out a roar, and for a moment the abyss around them shifts and brightens. There's a flash of images, of a flaming caravan in the desert. Of a dying wind seraph. Of a war-torn battlefield. Of a fierce meteor shower, in the midst of which is none other than Dalamud itself. Other images appear, but they go by too fast to make out clearly. And with them all, a young Merisia's voice breaks through:

"What's happening to me?!"

"Why am I seeing this?!"

"I don't know what's-!"

And then it's all over. The abyss darkens, the only remaining light coming from the crystal. The beast snarls, but it's starting to look tired. Once more, it settles into its shadowy behemoth form, albeit smaller this time. ]

Don't know anything. Don't know what to do. Has it taken you? I won't...let it hurt you.

[Kor had originally assumed that the Carbuncle he was traveling with was some representation of Merisia's inner self, there to guide him to the Echo he was supposed to "destroy". But maybe that wasn't the case... ...No, of course that wasn't the case, now that he thinks about it. If anything, this thing in front of him's way more Merisia than Topaz is. Her fears, her doubts, her hesitations... All given form in this beast right here....

This behemoth is Merisia's inner self, or at least one facet of it. That much, Kor is relatively sure of.]

Why are you so afraid of it?

[Even in the dark, Kor refuses to back down or hesitate. He takes another step forward, maintaining his calm again.]

I know the Echo's made things hard for you, Merisia. You had a rough life just because you had this power you didn't ask for. And... It even cost you the lives of people you care about.

[There's a pause from Kor.]

...But I want that to change. I think you can find a way to do good things with the Echo. I'll even help you do it if I have to! I... won't let it hurt you, ever again.

[ The beast doesn't move, not even as Kor approaches. It shifts uncertainly, but doesn't back away. Then again, given the fact that it gives a fearful glance towards the crystal, maybe it's not an indicator of bravery...

But, after a moment, it looks up and offers a quiet answer. ]

Already told you. There's too much we don't know. Too many questions. Too many...risks... Could be eating away at us. Could be the only thing keeping us alive. Don't know. Could be anything at this point. Nothing is safe. NOTHING is certain. [ It's not much different from what Merisia already told Kor, after all. The Empire's view of it, the unpredictability and lack of control... It's not so much that there are other issues, and more that the issues that do exist are so important and alarming to Merisia's sense of self. But, of course, there is more. ] Wasn't so bad before. Still didn't like it. But could move on. Then we found someone who knew. Tried to get answers, got more questions. Don't know anything now. And if we don't know anything, we can do nothing if danger strikes. Not having answers...is dangerous. Don't know the Echo. Don't know OURSELVES anymore, either. Don't know ANYTHING. For all we know, there are nothing but dangers ahead that we can't control, waiting to happen. Waiting to take more away. If it hasn't already hurt us.

[ It's not a lack of knowledge that comes with a wonder of discovery. Only the fear of something terrible waiting at the end.

At first, it seems that Kor's effort to break through to the beast still isn't going to work. After all, fear is a stubborn thing, and Merisia seems ever adamant about clinging to it as she does her distrust. But then, that last statement he makes clicks, somehow. The static calms, the shadows thin further. Carefully, the beast takes a half-step forward, the yellow hue finally starting to fade from its eyes, fangs no longer bared. ]

The dangers can't be ignored. We just want to keep people safe. We want...answers. You...really want to help us? Will it hurt you?

[ It takes another step forward. The beast looks hesitant and unsure, yet there's a quiet eagerness to its movement, almost as if it's reaching out to him. The crystal's warmth reaches out in a gentle pulse, and several bands of light begin to swirl in the abyss again. It's still dark, but it's more akin to quiet evening sky than the dangerous depths of a cavern. ]

Edited 2018-06-22 03:34 (UTC)

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