They watched N’thuzu Tia disappear from Wineport, heading out the eastern gates and making his way down the mountain. When he was out of sight, Azlyn groaned in pain. Her muscles were crying out in agony.
“I think I’m going to go home for the remainder of the day.” She whimpered, staring up at the afternoon sky. It was still hard to believe that this time yesterday she was fighting Titan. It appeared to her that she got drawn into more and more stuff with or without her consent. “The last twenty-four to forty-eight hours have kicked my ass.”
Richiro Wichiro nodded. “Of course! I’m sorry to have you assist me when you’re exhausted! I should have thought of that before calling upon you.” He bowed to her. “In the meantime, I think I will head to Limsa Lominsa. I want to make sure the Scholar gems were delivered to Mealvaan’s Gate.”
She gave him a thumbs up. “Good idea. Hey, you might consider finding a grimoire that would be compatible with your new soul gem. Something to help manifest your aether into summoning Eos and Selene.” Azlyn didn’t have any extra Grimoires on her person for him to borrow, so all she could do was direct him.
Richiro grinned. “I’m excited to try a new art—I hope I do Alka Zolka justice with this soul gem.”
Azlyn thought back to his optimistic view of the future—a world where scholars ran around with Eos’s and Selene’s traveling the world. “Me too Richi, me too.”
The Lalafellin waved one last time, activating a teleport back to the City-State of Limsa Lominsa. As he blinked out of sight, she closed her eyes to focus her energy. She thought of the crystal back home in the Goblet, where hopefully she could have a plate of breakfast and take a long overdue nap.
The first thing she noticed when she appeared in front of their plot had been Kida planting some seeds by the chocobo stable. A new bird, one with yellow plumed feathers had been settled within the stable while Markarov, Roll’s red plumed bird had been missing.
“What are you planting?” Azlyn asked as she came up behind Kida, peering over her shoulder.
“Welcome back!” Kida grinned, “Roll and I thought it’d be great to grow some vegetables of our own. I just planted the seeds for some tomatoes, carrots, and zucchini.”
The Au Ra with white hair admired the small garden plot with a warm gaze. “I can’t wait to see them fully grown.” She then gestured to the yellow bird with Gridanian barding. “Whose choco is that?”
Kida stood up, running in front of the stable to call to the bird. “Come here Remi! Azlyn, meet Remi! Remi is my chocobo that I brought over from the Grand Company.” The bird khewed in content as she started to scratch under the tuft of his beak. “Roll took Markarov out for a long stroll—she said he desperately needed some exercise.” She chuckled as Jiroh stretched his long neck out and quirked his head to Azlyn.
She smiled, reaching out to stroke the bird with scratches.
“Remi loves scratches, ain’t that right girl?” Kida cooed, jumping up onto the rail of the stable to love upon the bird. “Such a good girl deserves some tasty treats!” She procured a crunchy pepper from her back pocket, and Remi looked ecstatic.
“Kweeeehh Kweeeh!” Remi nuzzled her all over and under her head, before she let her take the treat from her hand.
“She’s such a spoiled girl.” Kida chuckled. Turning her attention back to her friend. “So, what happened during your excursion with Richiro? Anything exciting happen in eastern La Noscea?”
The Au Ra sighed, crossing her arms. She leaned her back against the rail of the stable beside Kida. “Richiro met a marauder from Limsa Lominsa who needed some help uncovering Nymian history. We came across quite the find too.” She produced the soul gem from her satchel. “I should find a Nymian Grimoire to go with the gem—practice my magicks dealing with support.”
Kida examined the purple gem. “Nice. What is it for?”
She laughed. “It’s similar to summoning or arcanima I think—except you’re calling upon fairies for team support.”
“Hold your chocobos—you can summon fairies?”
Azlyn nodded. “Yeah, it’s similar to that of carbuncles—one can summon them to their side by applying certain formulaes using the aether available around you. It’s the basics of arcanima.” She forgot that she hadn’t shown Kida her green stone for summoning primal egis yet. “Oh, and I can also summon the essences of the primals.”
Kida clapped her hands twice. “Okay, now this is something I have to see. Summon something for me!”
The girl complied, thinking of the Allag summoning book with the gem in the cover. “Titan-Egi, come forth!” They watched the aether shift and form, exploding into a manifested tiny form of the image of Titan. Kida squealed in delight as the primal floated over to her—its miniature appearance was cute.
“If Titan was this adorable, I think we would have had a harder time beating it up! So cute!” She reached a finger out to poke the tiny head of Titan. The egi shook away, and then disappeared into the void. Azlyn smirked.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll see more of the primal egis the more I study.” She stretched her arms out. “Ugh—on that note I’m super tired. I’m gonna crash for a bit.”
Kida gave the girl her trademark devilish smirk. “Ozwin’s been snoozing on the couch all day.” She reached out to smudge the bit of dirt on her cheek. “Was there a lot of fighting in La Noscea?”
That reminded the girl of the other event that occurred. “Oh—yeah, we ran into Curious Gorge and Thuzu. There were some beasts that got riled up near Wineport, so we all dealt with the cause and aftermath. Although I think we all got our butts handed to us.”
“You can just say asses instead of butts, Azlyn.” Kida laughed. “It definitely sounds like you had a jampacked day. Jeez, no wonder you’re exhausted. Get some sleep. Oh, we did mail your letters out this morning and Roll also sent a huge box to the students. They’re going to have a great Starlight when they open that box up.”
Azlyn happily grinned. “Good. Alright, I won’t keep you from the gardening. Wake me if there’s something that needs done.”
Kida shook her head. “Nope. We’ll let you sleep. You need to relax girlie.”
“I’ll try.” The girl waved her hand in a quick goodbye, as Kida jumped right back into finishing up her task. Remi chirped in content within the stable, poking her head around to nip Kida. She jumped at the playful bite.
Azlyn could hear them playing around even when she entered the house—the common room had been darkened, as the soft sounds of Ozwin sleeping filled the space. She looked over to see him sprawled out on the couch, a woven blanket over his form.
She went downstairs to the spare rooms, walking into the room she used the previous night. The desk had been wiped cleaned, and her stuff placed neatly away in her satchel on the chair. Taking a moment to check the contents, she saw that everything was in the places they should have been.
“He was right.” She groaned, finally walking over to the bed. She grabbed the blankets back to curl up under the sheets. “I’m so exhausted after all that training and activity.”
She closed her eyes, hoping for sleep to overtake her.
Azlyn wasn’t quite sure for how long she’d been asleep, only that a soft touch had pressed on her arm. She grumbled, trying to turn away. The movement caused the person that touched her to chuckle. The soft feminine voice drew her from her sleep.
“…Hmmm?” The Au Ra mumbled.
“Could I have a moment of your time?”
Azlyn recognized the voice that belonged to their thaumaturge caster, Koroko Koko. She rolled over to the side of the bed, closer to the Lalafellin. She was now staring into the one, red eye of the caster. “Mmmm—Morning.”
“It’s more like good evening.”
Azlyn yawned, covering her mouth with a hand. She hoped she hadn’t drooled in the middle of her nap—but couldn’t tell. She wiped her face anyway. “What’s up Koroko, did something happen?”
The caster sighed, crossing her arms. “I wish I could say everything is dandy, but it appears we have quite a problem on our hands. If possible, tonight could I borrow your body?”
That line of questioning seemed a bit too suggestive for Azlyn not to inquire more. “…I’m sorry, what do you want to borrow?”
“Your body—more specifically—your strange ability to fight with numerous weapons. I have need of your skills.”
The Au Ra pulled herself to the edge of the bed, stretching her arms up. The ache in her muscles were still present. “Uhhhh—okay. I’m going to need a bit more information than just that.”
Koroko Koko gestured for the girl to follow her. “Come with me to Burgundy Falls in eastern Thanalan. You shall learn of what it is I must do.”
“Right.” Azlyn drew out slowly but seeing as Koroko Koko had already started her teleport over to her destination, there really wasn’t much the Au Ra could do. When the Lalafellin disappeared in the spell, Azlyn had to jog her memory of what settlements were in eastern Thanalan. She gathered her things as she talked through where she needed to go. “Wasn’t Camp Bronze Lake—that’s La Noscea… Was it Camp Drybone…yeah, that’s it.” She activated her teleport, jumping from the interior of the house to the outside.
The evening sky had been painted dark—the stars littered the night sky as if it were a black canvass. She stared up at the brilliant light bouncing off the moon, and then heard the faint footsteps of her companion waiting for her. “Are you ready?”
Azlyn nodded to Koroko. “Yeah, I guess lead the way?”
The Lalafellin caster brought forth her whistle, summoning her broom mount to ride across the desert. Azlyn copied her, bringing out her whistle to summon her palanquin held by the two grenades. They traveled toward the Highbridge, crossing the man-made bridge. She could see the entrance into the Black Shroud—however Koroko Koko veered south, heading toward the aetherically charged yellow and orange crystallites that formed in large, arching canyons.
As they approached a cave, Azlyn could already feel a charge of energy in the air—from the atmosphere of those manifested crystals no less.
Koroko Koko headed inside, before hopping off her broom and greeting an Amal’jaa standing by himself. Azlyn’s eyes widened, reaching a hand back to her sidearm.
“No need to worry—Master Kazagg Chah is not like his tempered brethren.” Koroko Koko spoke calmly without giving the Au Ra a glance.
“I…see.” Azlyn awkwardly removed her hand from her holster. The book laid still for the time being.
“Welcome Koroko Koko, chosen of Ququruka and bearer of the Gem of Shatotto.” The Amalj’aa whom Koroko Koko addressed as Master Kazagg Chah spoke to her. He noted Azlyn’s presence behind her. “I see you have brought company.”
Azlyn had to do a double take at the mention of the Gem of Shatotto. “Wait—isn’t that the founder of black magic from the Mhachi civilization? I thought the study of black magic had been strictly forbidden—what’s this about? And Ququruka—I’ve heard that name before…” The girl raked her head trying to think of where she’d heard it.
Koroko Koko smiled mysteriously. “Don’t think too hard, you’ll have an aneurism.”
The girl was still lost in her thoughts as the Lalafellin chuckled. “Master Kazagg Chah, where are Master Dozol Meloc and Master Da Za?”
Kazagg Chah stared down to Koroko Koko. His scales rippled as he tensed his upper body. “They have gone ahead to the void gates lying in wait in western Thanalan. At last the time spoken of in the prophecy has come Koroko Koko.”
“Yes it has.” Koroko Koko nodded to the Amalj’aa sorcerer and gestured to her friend. “This is my leader. She has had dealings with voidsent in the past, so I have brought her with as a means to an end.”
Azlyn listened to the two’s conversation. “Oh… I’m Azlyn. It’s nice to meet you.” She bowed her head, deciding it would be rude to not treat him as she would anyone else.
The Amalj’aa nodded back. “I am Kazagg Chah, a sorcerer of the Amalj’aa, as were my forebears. I am the fourth of my line to walk this path, which brings me now to this land.”
“You’ve traveled quite a way then, I gather.” Azlyn pointed out and looked to Koroko. Her questions just kept growing. “Koroko, did you mention voidsent? And what’s this about a prophecy?”
Koroko Koko chuckled. “Hmm hmm hm. Nothing you need to worry about leader. I just require your assistance while I pour blood upon a myriad of rifts.”
“You know, that doesn’t sound any better.” Azlyn crossed her arms, doing her best to process the information. She felt like her nap did her a discourtesy in this regard as she could only come up with blanks.
Kazagg Chah spoke resolutely to them, drawing the girl from her thoughts. “You have fed the aetherial currents with the blood of fiends. That the Gem of Shattoto radiates as it does in your presence is proof of your deeds, and a sign of what must yet be done. It falls to me to bear witness to your awakening Koroko, and to pass on to you the knowledge entrusted to me.”
The Lalafellin caster nodded. “I am in your care, as well as yours leader.” She peered up, her one red eye gleamed mysteriously to the white-haired Au Ra.
“It’s like you want me to be worried and curious at the same time.” Azlyn sighed, shaking her head. “Okay, fine. I bite. Where to Koroko?”
“As Master Kazagg Chah stated, we will travel to western Thanalan to meet the other masters of this discipline. From there, we shall seal the gates of the void beyond.” Koroko Koko chuckled ominously. “Or get sucked within. I do not care either way.”
Azlyn gave a look of justified horror. “By the Twelve Koroko, I hope you jest.”
The Amalj’aa sorcerer shook his head. Speaking with concise clarity. “Know that you must face death before your purpose can be fulfilled.” He pulled out the map in his possession to point to them where it was the other two masters were. Azlyn paled considerably during their conversation. “It is to the Silent King in western Thanalan that you must next journey. There too lies, lies a planar fissure. You must slake the land’s thirst with the blood of the fiends which surge forth from it.”
Koroko chuckled in dark tones, something that caused Azlyn a bit of worry. “Is this...never mind. I’m just going to pretend I didn’t hear that last part.” The Au Ra slapped both of her own cheeks with her hands to perk up.
“When you are done and the deed complete, the Gem of Shatotto shall shine with new brilliance.” The Amalj’aa sorcerer pointed to the small gem embedded in Koroko’s staff—its light did catch her attention initially. She just assumed it was an aetheric charged gemstone—now she realized what it was.
Koroko Koko nodded up to her mentor. “The will of Shatotto shall be done.” Then she turned to the Au Ra next to her. The only visible red eye of the Lalafellin caster seemed to widen in excitement. “Leader, let’s be on our way to Horizon. There we will travel to the Silent Kings.”
If Azlyn remembered properly, the Silent Kings happened to be a dilapidated area surrounded by the fallen ruins of what should have been a stone city. Broken from the years—or perhaps it was the calamity that really dealt it the finishing blow. In either event, this area was nothing more than a spot of historic sights and study grounds for scholars. Although it didn’t stop the monsters from overpopulating the area. The realm had a fair share of monster growth since the calamity—limiting the areas in which a person could live peacefully.
“Alright.” She spoke, and watched as Koroko Koko started her teleport. The Lalafellin teleported away and Azlyn turned to Kazagg Chah. “Thank you for...taking care of her.” She gave the Amalj’aa a slight bow.
“I recommend you heed and watch her.” Kazagg Chah spoke, his tone not changing from how he addressed Koroko Koko. “She is the one we’ve been waiting for.”
Azlyn blinked curiously. Tilting her head. “I will do so. With your leave?” She activated her teleport when he nodded down to her. Horizon was just a short jump away—Albeit on the other side of Ul’dah.
The caster waited for her, patiently standing by the large aetheryte with her red eye to the western sky. It appeared she too knew the way to the Silent Kings. Azlyn waved at her when she popped into view. “Ready?”
Azlyn nodded. “After you.”
Together they exited the settlement of Horizon, the familiar path that led to either Vesper Bay where the Scions were located—or the small bazaar that laid further south. However, where they were going happened to before before either location. Koroko walked with purpose, before her staff started to brilliantly glow the closer they traveled.
“This way.” Koroko hopped off the path suddenly, into the ankle high waters and further into the ruins of the Silent Kings. When they past the large chunks of debris and stone pillars broken into smaller chunks, they found someone waiting.
Azlyn had never seen a beastmen like this before. Tall, featherless, a long bird-reptilian like jaw. They had a severe hunched back, which affected their overall height, and had tribal-like attire for a semblance of clothes.
“Whose this?” The beastmen squawked, pointing to Azlyn who walked up with the Lalafellin. This was probably one of the master’s Koroko Koko mentioned before.
“My leader.” The Lalafellin smiled. She looked up to Azlyn. “This is Master Dozol Meloc, he is part of the Ixal tribe.”
Azlyn widened her eyes. “Oh. Uh...” She was not sure how to proceed, and instead shrugged her shoulders. “I’m Azlyn.”
“Great power, you both have. But enough will it be?” The Ixal called Dozol Meloc spoke in more riddles and squawks. He then pointed to the south of their location, and all three directed their attention to the spot he gestured toward. There was an abysmal amount of condensed aether spewing from a tear in the very fabric of the area. Azlyn hadn’t seen anything like it. “To close planar fissure, strong black magic you need.” He pointed to Koroko Koko. “You close, then Dozol Meloc will inform you of more.”
The caster smiled, walking over confidently. The bottom of her robes sloshed the waters she walked in. Azlyn followed after her, seeing the girl pull out a good sized vial of crimson. The closer they got to the fissure, the more Azlyn felt sick. The pressure had been suffocating.
“Just a moment.” The mysterious caster started to pour the blood she had all over the land, and Azlyn noticed a shift in aether.
“Something’s coming.” Azlyn narrowed her eyes, staring at the fissure. A claw manifested from the crack, tearing it further apart as more of the void sent creature started to pull itself through. Claws, a circular body, one eye with enlarged, bat-like wings. It’s flesh looked like stretched skin—a murky light brown that looked as if it’d been tanned several times. The large maw, with rows of teeth screeched at them.
“Be a dear and take care of our guest.” Koroko chided happily, turning her attention to the broken fissure. “I shall repair the rift and help you shortly.”
Azlyn stared up at the large creature. “This is way bigger than the ones I’ve fought in Haukke Manor.” She brought forth her summoning set, and started to call forth the egi for Ifrit. The aether heated upon entrance of her egi, she started laying out attack patterns in formulas to issue out to her summoned pet. “I’ll do my best Koroko, be sure you get the fissure closed.”
The caster resumed her duties, while Azlyn turned her attention to the voidsent creature. Her summoned pet charged forth, the attack of the creature set off her set commands from before. Her egi blazed in flames, slashing with its claws at the exposed flesh of its wings and the eye itself.
Azlyn took the opportunity to cast a few spells of Ruin upon it, helping down the creature after a series of spells.
Koroko Koko finished healing the rift after a complex casting of her own, just as the one-eyed monster cried in pain, dropping to the ground and disappearing in a poof of black mist. The amount of damage it incurred from both her Ifrit and her spell-casting was enough.
“Excellent work leader! You didn’t need me at all.” The caster gleaned, the hood and wrap around most of her face slightly lifted when she smirked.
“I beg to differ.” Azlyn brought her summoned pet to her side, looking at Koroko Koko. “You closed the rift before any more of those creatures could get through.”
As they were speaking Dozol Meloc approached them, he squawked announcing his presence. “Kazagg Chah spoke true. Black is strong in Koroko. You go now. Go see Da Za.” He pointed a non-feathered talon over to the north side of the Silent Kings.
“Ready leader?”
Azlyn nodded. “After you.”
Once again they moved through the still waters, heading in the direction Dozol Meloc pointed to. They walked around some more rubble, and used Koroko’s gem to light them through to the spot.
Standing by themselves, Azlyn could see a familiar, furry beastmen beset in armor and headset. “An Ixal, and now a kobold.”
Koroko nodded. “Master Da Za of the 269th Order.”
The kobold reached up to scratch one of his ears. “Koroko is here. Who is this? Stranger, person, being?”
“I’m Azlyn.” The Au Ra introduced herself to save them trouble. “It’s nice to meet you.”
The kobold quirked his head at her introduction. “Strange.” He then pointed south of their location. “Here lies the planar fissure—rift, tear, fissure. Use power within to seal it.”
“Straight to the point.” Koroko chuckled, and together she and Azlyn walked over to the gestured spot. The same pressure of amassed aether pouring from the tear caused the same stifling pressure as before. And they dealt with it in a similar manner. Azlyn and her Ifrit-egi handled the large voidsent creature that crawled through the blood soaked ground where the rift emerged—and while she fought Koroko Koko set to sealing it with the strange gifts of newfound lost black magic.
Da Za ran over to them, the water sloshing in his treks. “It is as Kazagg Chah foretold. You are chosen Koroko. You must return to him now. Yes, return and tell Kazagg Chah the deed is done—ended, over, done.” The kobold pointed eastward, where they noticed the large Amalj’aa standing on a pillar in the distance. It seemed to them that he had watched Koroko as she performed the seals.
He then ran off, away from the area and out of sight. Azlyn crossed her arms as she let her egi disappear back into the void.
“So—was this all you needed?”
Koroko Koko nodded happily. “Indeed. I had a feeling the voidsent creatures would be troublesome. The first one I tackled on my own took longer and drained me quite a bit.”
This caused Azlyn to furrow her brow. “Wait—you sealed a fissure by yourself?”
“Hmm hm hmmm. Oh yes—that’s how I found the Gem of Shattoto. And after that, I decided to have additional helpers.” She admired her staff happily. “Less trouble for me later on.”
“I see...” She could tell it was late in the evening, as the stars above glittered brightly. There was hardly any light pollution out there, making the sky look beautiful.
“Well, let’s see Kazagg Chah. Coming?” Koroko Koko sloshing through the water and over to the entrance of the Silent Kings area.
Azlyn chuckled, walking right behind the Lalafellin as they slowly made their way to the waiting sorcerer. She felt exhausted after all the activity that day. She wasn’t sure how busy Koroko had been that day, but hoped she would call it a night after this expedition.
The Amalj’aa sorcerer called out to them when they were in sight. “You have done well—as I knew you would return to me victorious. The Gem of Shatotto burns bright. You are indeed the heiress to a dark and ancient power. I am reminded of a prophecy of my great-grandfather uttered long ago: When four magi meet in a barren land, Black powers of eld woven by their hand, Shall see the fate of wickedness made stark, And the path to light shall be lit by dark.”
Azlyn and Koroko Koko listened intently. The prophecy did sound like something unfolding. Koroko surmised parts of the poem aloud. “The black powers of eld requires no explanation. And know that wickedness must refer to the evil birthed by the voids.” The caster rubbed her chin in thought.
Azlyn thought hard about what she just saw, but she was drawing a blank. Kazagg Chah spoke calmly after the Lalafellin.
“That the seal holding the voidgate shut will falter and fail is beyond doubt. Yet your deeds speak of determination and ability, and in them I spy hope. I have learned all of you that I must.” Kazagg Chah nodded. Then turned his attention to Azlyn. “Thank you for assisting Koroko of the black. With it we all are one step closer to a safer realm.”
Azlyn waved both of her hands to shake off the thanks. “It’s no problem—I’m glad I was able to help. I wish I could help out more—but I don’t know how much of a help I’ll be.” She nervously chuckled.
“You don’t need to worry too much, as I will likely call upon your services again.” Koroko chuckled behind her hand. “Master Kazagg Chah has been waiting for this day for sometime—have you not?”
He nodded. “You have brought this old Amalj’aa much happiness. Few believed the words of my great-grandfather. He was mocked and ridiculed, and worse, ignored. Yet your coming fulfilled the prophecy he spoke.” Kazagg Chah bowed his head to them. “I will bestow upon you the knowledge kept by my line. Here and now, I speak an oath to discard old grudges. By our power combined, the voidgate will be sealed anew.”
Azlyn looked to Koroko at her side. She was concerned. “This seems quite dangerous. You sure everything will be alright? To be honest I’m a bit worried.”
“Koroko, the dark magic coursing through you shares a deep bond with the voidgate. It would be wise to heed the concern your friend has stated. Should that portal be cast open, you will come to great peril.”
After hearing that Azlyn’s concern grew more. “Yeah, that didn’t help my concern any better.”
Koroko nodded once more. “I just need to temper myself. I shall train as much as I can.”
Kazagg Chah gave a dry chortle. “It is late. I must go to rest for the night. Let us meet once more to fulfill the prophecy my great-grandfather spoke of long ago.” He bid them goodbye, walking away from the Silent Kings. Azlyn and Koroko Koko were the only ones present in that quiet historic sight.
Azlyn turned her attention back up, to the large remaining pieces of architecture that molded the faces of kings long since dead. “You know, you never told me why Ququruka sounded familiar.”
Koroko Koko chuckled mischievously. “Someone who broke himself free of his prison cell.”
This made the girl think back—and then gasped in horror aloud. “Wait! It’s that fellow?! Why are you being associated with him!?”
The mage chuckled aloud, walking back toward civilization in Horizon. “It’s not as bad as you think it is. I did foresee it coming.”
Azlyn shook her head. “Did you foresee me getting involved in it?”
She nodded. “I shall call upon your services again—but come, let us return to the house. You are tired from your long day.”
The Au Ra crossed her arms, wondering what Koroko Koko actually saw. “You’re going to have to explain how you do these things.” She postulated to the air around them, implying how she could just be mysterious and know everything.
Koroko Koko looked over her shoulder, up to her as she stopped. “Just as you see the past of those around you, I share a similar thing. Blessed by Hydaelyn, but with a different set of gifts. You look to the past, and I to the future. Together with the others, we shall continue toward a better future.”
After that Koroko teleported away, more than likely back to the house. Azlyn remained behind thinking on her words. “The future... that would make sense then.” She shook her head. “However she really is a curious creature. I still can’t get a grasp on her personality.” She sighed heavily, before teleporting away to the house in the Goblet.
