April 7th 2019 is Churning Mists Day, the day Aikirees first made it to this gorgeous area. It’s an important day for her and it happened well before my arrival in Eorzea…
Up on the floating peak of Sohm Al on a clear crisp day, Aikirees while wearing similar attire as she did the first time she arrived here, looks off into the vast sea of clouds that make up the Churning Mists. Far off into the distance she looks upon Zenith’s magnificently colossal structure jetting far up into the heavens. She simply stands there gazing with a smile, while enjoying the cool winds on her ears, and gently moving the grass and puff bolls around her. Aikirees closes her eyes and lets in a deep breath, and just like that time seems to stand still in this tranquil moment.
“Oh, you’re already here!”
Aikirees’ ear flips towards the direction of the voice, and she turns to see that I’ve finally arrived at the summit to meet her. She smiles and goes back to gazing off into the distance, while I approach to join her.
“Ish zee fifth’sies zee year’sies nao, zee Sissy… Five’sies zee year’sies since I furrrrrsteded visited here…”
Aikirees says, not looking away from Zenith. I smile while doing the same, and joining her in just gazing outwards. After what felt like an eternity, I spoke up.
“It has been quite the adventure; I still remember when you left Kugane that faithful day. All full of excitement ready to seek out new horizons. There’s that part within you that just yearned for travel, and I still haven’t quite figured that part out.”
I glance at her and see the smile on her face still there strong as ever.
“…And you certainly found it. Saved Eorzea, ended the Dragonsong War, and even helped take back Ala Mhigo. All before I finally was able to catch up with you. You’ve grown so strong, Little One.”
Aikirees breaks away from gazing off into the distance and looks up at me with grin, and I return the gesture in kind.
“Sew zee has yew, zee Big Sissy! Yew were alway’sies zee stronk’sies one’sies doe!”
I chuckled lightheartedly back at her.
“I appreciate the notion!”
She simply smiled as not a care in the world, even after everything we had seen and done whether together or apart, she always has and continues to see the best and brightest in everyone around her.
“Thank you for always letting me come with you on this day to reflect; I know it’s important to you, as you reminisce about the past.”
Aikirees nods an acknowledging nod back.
“Ish zee nice’sies to has zee company’sies. I’sies know yew zee worrrries’sies about zee mi’s lot’sies, but yew’sies dun has tew. Even’sies with zee upcoming’sies jourrrrney’sies, I’ll be zee fine’sies! We’sies gone’sies tew zee edge’sies of dish existens’sies togethurrrr’sies after zee all’sies!”
I pause not really sure what to say, she is right, and it just shows how much she really has grown. Instead of saying anything to contest, I simply smile warmly at her my dear little sister.
“You’re right, Little One. Just, promise me you won’t lose anymore lives.”
She laughs and nods in agreement.
“Of zee course’sies! Has tew keep’sies zee othurrrr’sies seven zee safe’sies!”
I chuckle back, mostly in warmth but with a hint of precaution hoping she doesn’t sense it. The rest of this special day, that Aikirees has simply named ‘Churning Mists Day’ we go and visit places she remembers very fondly during her first time here all those years ago now, making sure to visit with both the dragons and moogles, see some of the beautiful views, and ultimately with it ending in a peculiar spot where she shared a warm fire with some dear friends – one of which whom sacrificed herself to help end the Dragonsong War.