Norvrandt was a shock, Kholusia and Amh Araeng each horrifying in their own way. With this world clearly in danger, she took up the mantle of the Warrior of Darkness without hesitation, privately appreciating the anonymity she was to maintain. Her second shock came when an Ascian appeared with intent to negotiate, and though she didn't trust this Emet-Selch at first, she had to concede his point about understanding one's enemy. It was, after all, the same point she herself had made about Varis.
Overhearng Y'shtola talk about the strain the Light was putting on her left her conflicted. To some extent, she was relieved to hear someone expressing concern about her safety. Still, It was frustrating that they were still only talking about it behind her back, still making decisions for her and expecting her to shoulder the burden. However, that frustration wasn't enough to curb her distress over Y'shtola's apparent demise, nor her genuine gratitude for Emet-Selch's intervention.
Though she couldn't understand why at the time, as she interacted with the Ascian, she found herself with an unsettling sense of familiarity and comfort with him. Learning the truth of her world's origin, she couldn't help but feel sympathetic, even as she resolved that she couldn't allow the Reflections to be destroyed for a world that was already gone. When it came down to a confrontation between her and the Ascian, she was disappointed, but not surprised.
There were plenty of surprises to come after. Gaius requesting her aid on the Source, coupled with Elidibus using Ardbert's body to solve problems and inspire people to stand up in defense of their own world, left her confused on multiple fronts. While the other Scions puzzled over Elidibus' motivations, she chose to hear Gaius out and, ultimately, accept his request to stop a Weapons project that was a threat to all of Eorzea. Scarcely letting herself rest, she was also helping with Ryne's ambition to restore life to the Empty.
When Elidibus finally put his true plan into action, she was furious at his assumption that she had killed Emet-Selch without hesitation or remorse, even more so when he started digging up older pains she had never fully healed from. At the same time, she was honestly moved as the citizens of Norvrandt rallied to her defense, something the people of Eorzea would never have even considered she might need.
Coming to fully understand Elidibus' situation and how he had come to that point was a second wakeup call, a reminder that dedicating one's time exclusively to one's responsibilities isn't sustainable. Unfortunately, she had no chance to rest as she returned to the Source to find the Telopheroi wreaking havoc. Even her home city-state's truce with the kobolds and sahagin was a hollow victory, in the face of Fandaniel's threat against the star itself.
While waiting for Krile to arrange entry to Sharlayan, Aelienor encountered the Lemures, and wound up making a likely ill-advised pact with a Voidsent in order to help track down the possessed corpse of a fallen Reaper…only to learn, much to her chagrin, that Zenos had also taken up the scythe. Even worse was the abduction. Though she did her best to ignore Zenos and focus her ire on Fandaniel, having her body stolen and used against her friends while she struggled desperately to reach and stop Zenos left her feeling helpless and violated in a way she has yet to fully recover from.
Elpis was emotionally difficult for her, as she weighed her reasons to not try to change history against the gnawing feeling that she'd be no better than the Ascians if she abandoned this world to its fate to save her own. On top of that, she found herself growing ever more fond of Hades, with this chance to see what he was like without Zodiark's influence. It was both relieving and heartbreaking when she turned out to be there too late to make any difference, and the time came to return to her own era.
Ultima Thule was even more difficult. Already sick of watching people die so she could succeed, watching the Scions sacrifice themselves in ones and twos so she could proceed was devastating. Only the memory of those she fought for kept her moving forward, until finally she was able to use Hydaelyn's gift to reclaim the lost. Though she wished Hades and Hythlodaeus would stay as well, she couldn't find the words to express it with those who disliked the former Ascian standing right there.
In the end, she chose to indulge Zenos as a show of acknowledgement for the fact that he'd made some progress on understanding why she'd been avoiding him. The trip back to Sharlayan was an awkward one, as she parsed the adult Scions worrying about her to her face for the first time. Unsure what to do with it, she decided to focus on her recovery, finally making good on her promise to herself to pace herself better.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Shadowbringers+Endwalker
Date: 2022-07-28 09:55 pm (UTC)Shadowbringers and Endwalker
Norvrandt was a shock, Kholusia and Amh Araeng each horrifying in their own way. With this world clearly in danger, she took up the mantle of the Warrior of Darkness without hesitation, privately appreciating the anonymity she was to maintain. Her second shock came when an Ascian appeared with intent to negotiate, and though she didn't trust this Emet-Selch at first, she had to concede his point about understanding one's enemy. It was, after all, the same point she herself had made about Varis.
Overhearng Y'shtola talk about the strain the Light was putting on her left her conflicted. To some extent, she was relieved to hear someone expressing concern about her safety. Still, It was frustrating that they were still only talking about it behind her back, still making decisions for her and expecting her to shoulder the burden. However, that frustration wasn't enough to curb her distress over Y'shtola's apparent demise, nor her genuine gratitude for Emet-Selch's intervention.
Though she couldn't understand why at the time, as she interacted with the Ascian, she found herself with an unsettling sense of familiarity and comfort with him. Learning the truth of her world's origin, she couldn't help but feel sympathetic, even as she resolved that she couldn't allow the Reflections to be destroyed for a world that was already gone. When it came down to a confrontation between her and the Ascian, she was disappointed, but not surprised.
There were plenty of surprises to come after. Gaius requesting her aid on the Source, coupled with Elidibus using Ardbert's body to solve problems and inspire people to stand up in defense of their own world, left her confused on multiple fronts. While the other Scions puzzled over Elidibus' motivations, she chose to hear Gaius out and, ultimately, accept his request to stop a Weapons project that was a threat to all of Eorzea. Scarcely letting herself rest, she was also helping with Ryne's ambition to restore life to the Empty.
When Elidibus finally put his true plan into action, she was furious at his assumption that she had killed Emet-Selch without hesitation or remorse, even more so when he started digging up older pains she had never fully healed from. At the same time, she was honestly moved as the citizens of Norvrandt rallied to her defense, something the people of Eorzea would never have even considered she might need.
Coming to fully understand Elidibus' situation and how he had come to that point was a second wakeup call, a reminder that dedicating one's time exclusively to one's responsibilities isn't sustainable. Unfortunately, she had no chance to rest as she returned to the Source to find the Telopheroi wreaking havoc. Even her home city-state's truce with the kobolds and sahagin was a hollow victory, in the face of Fandaniel's threat against the star itself.
While waiting for Krile to arrange entry to Sharlayan, Aelienor encountered the Lemures, and wound up making a likely ill-advised pact with a Voidsent in order to help track down the possessed corpse of a fallen Reaper…only to learn, much to her chagrin, that Zenos had also taken up the scythe. Even worse was the abduction. Though she did her best to ignore Zenos and focus her ire on Fandaniel, having her body stolen and used against her friends while she struggled desperately to reach and stop Zenos left her feeling helpless and violated in a way she has yet to fully recover from.
Elpis was emotionally difficult for her, as she weighed her reasons to not try to change history against the gnawing feeling that she'd be no better than the Ascians if she abandoned this world to its fate to save her own. On top of that, she found herself growing ever more fond of Hades, with this chance to see what he was like without Zodiark's influence. It was both relieving and heartbreaking when she turned out to be there too late to make any difference, and the time came to return to her own era.
Ultima Thule was even more difficult. Already sick of watching people die so she could succeed, watching the Scions sacrifice themselves in ones and twos so she could proceed was devastating. Only the memory of those she fought for kept her moving forward, until finally she was able to use Hydaelyn's gift to reclaim the lost. Though she wished Hades and Hythlodaeus would stay as well, she couldn't find the words to express it with those who disliked the former Ascian standing right there.
In the end, she chose to indulge Zenos as a show of acknowledgement for the fact that he'd made some progress on understanding why she'd been avoiding him. The trip back to Sharlayan was an awkward one, as she parsed the adult Scions worrying about her to her face for the first time. Unsure what to do with it, she decided to focus on her recovery, finally making good on her promise to herself to pace herself better.