A short story I wrote a while ago, made some poses to go with it. Takes place after the first dungeon in Shadowbringers, spoilers within.
It was still bright outside the window of her room. Flidais lay on the bed, sleep eluding her. Her mind kept going back to the day prior. Killing the Lightwarden at Holminster Switch and having all that light flow into her body. The Exarch had been so sure the effects wouldn’t kill her, and something about him seemed so familiar it had caused her to trust him. Now she lay, trying to adjust to the way the Light felt, her throat scars itching in a way no amount of scratching would help. The itch almost seemed inside her skin. She eventually gave up and walked to the table, needing some water to refresh her dry throat.
The First was such a strange place, so much light. Her Void touched body, one that had spent so much time lost to Darkness felt out of place, like at any moment she could just break apart and dissolve away. There was also that nagging sensation she knew the Exarch, that he knew far too much about her than she should be comfortable with. Her Floppy ears twitched, and she turned to the door just in time to hear a soft knock. Someone was there, someone who by the sound of their sniffing and breathing had been crying. Her keen Viera hearing picked up smaller feet, their knock had been lower on the door. One of the twins maybe?
The tall woman threw on a robe and tied it before moving to the chamber entrance. She creaked open the door and peered out into the bright hallway. Alisaie stood there, a long nightshirt reaching below her knees exposing bare feet. The young girl looked up at her friend, an almost adoptive mother to her and her twin. Her eyes were about as red as her Red Mage soul crystal could suggest. Her soft voice when she spoke was almost imperceptible and Flidais was grateful to her excellent hearing.
‘I’m sorry. I know it’s late and you might be sleeping and I didn't want to wake you up but… I… I’m sorry but. I don’t. I can’t…” Flidias ushered the young girl, a teenager but still so much younger than her own century and more of life, into the room. Quickly kneeling, she put an arm around her.
‘Hey, hey, hey. It’s okay, I’m here.” Alisaie; sweet, confident, tough Alisaie looked into her eyes and tears formed again. What she said next nearly broke the older Black Mages heart and she hugged her daughter tight.
“How do you continue on after losing the love of your life?” Memories filled Flidias’s mind.
K’shai.
Fighting together, laughing, falling asleep in each other's arms talking about a little cabin in the forest.
Running through the bloodstained, corpse filled Waking Sands, heart in her throat.
A still form crumpled against a wall.
The anger and loss.
The brutal revenge quest that left her empty and drained.
The ache that still hadn’t gone away.
She held Alisaie as the young woman cried, heaving sobs of loss and pain. The Elezen girl whimpering “Tesleen! Tesleen, I’m so sorry!” What do you say? What can you tell someone so young, someone experiencing a loss so immense and raw? Flidais stood and scooped the young Elezen into her arms, feeling her cling tightly, her slender arms wrapping around her neck. Carefully she carried her bundle to the bed, sitting and holding the girl tight.
“I’m sorry dear, I don’t know. Loss is never easy and yours is especially hard. I do know that Tesleen cared for you as you cared for her. I didn’t handle my loss well, as I’m sure the stories you’ve heard. All I can offer is that we find a way. We find something to keep going, to honour her memory. We keep her in our hearts and live a life that would make her proud. I’ll be right here beside you each step of the way, for as long as you’ll have me.” The Viera bent and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, Alisaie tightening her grip as her sobs lessened.
“Can I stay by you tonight? Sleeping alone is…” she trailed off and swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat. Flidais nodded and gestured to the large bed they sat upon,
“There’s plenty of room, if you want I can cast Sleep to help you rest” Alisaie shook her head. She shifted off the older woman’s lap and lay down
“I just don’t want to be alone. Thank you. For everything.” exhaustion was clearing taking over the girl and Flidais carefully tucked her in before laying beside her in the large bed. The poor girl was far too young to have to deal with such a loss, and hopefully their work here in the First could prevent so many more losses. Her heart swelled in her chest though, as sleep finally seemed to overtake the girl, her last words before drifting off so quiet Flidais almost missed them
“I love you Mom.”
