Echoes Across Time

As Aikirees sleeps deeply one night, faint memories that are, but also not, hers come passing through her mind. A world she once would have called her home in a past life, Vana’Diel. As vague as the images are, she’s able to make out what they are and when in time.

Aikirees from Vana'Diel looking at the Earth Protocrystal.

The first being an early memory of many many summers past. Just starting out as a fledgling Summoner, barely after befriending what would become one of her closest soul bound friends, Carbuncle. There she was standing in front of a large floating crystal – even now she could sense that the presence inside was the powerful primal, Titan. One of many she had to encounter on her journey back then to be able to fully weld the power of the Primals. Ultimately, Aikirees succeed in such an enormous task, and seeing the memory once more brings back the rest of the journey she took to do so. At first all she had was Carbuncle, but in the end she had many friends to call upon for aid.

Some of the memories she tries to make out whisk by far too quick for her to recall clearly enough, but once the memories of the Primals had faded away, one of a looming and dark castle pierces through the fog in her dream.

She knew this place, and knew a dark presence lived there. Even in her sleep, she curled the edges of her mouth with a low snarl. Castle Zvahl Baileys was the name of this foreboding place, and it was here she with her friends took on a defeated the Shadow Lord. Unsure as to why this memory pierced her mind so clearly, even as vague as it came to her, it didn’t make her feel well nonetheless.

A lot of whirlwind memories continue passing by with such force, but a couple become less vague and more clear with warmth behind them. Some of the friends she made along the way appear as she adventured throughout some parts of Vana’Diel.

They were with her through a lot of trials and tribulations, but also for the small quiet moments as well. She remembers a lot of the silly memories that they all made together, but also the ones that got everyone to save the world over and over again. Everything from small group gatherings in a few places, to taking on Ark Angels on floating continents, there was no short of moments happening throughout her life there!

But… why now, what does it all mean? She knew this life, and it was two lives ago now – not counting the one she was gifted recently. More of the moments pass by quickly, but she begins to have a hard time focusing on them. Her conscious returns to the now, and all of the images she kept seeing disappear within a dark cloudy haze.

Aikirees slowly wakes back up, back home in HQ. Sitting up for a moment, she decides to hop out of the top bunk bed and head out of the bedroom for a moment. Trying to not stir me in the processes (she almost did so successfully, but I am Viera after all!), Aikirees heads outside to help clear her mind.

As she stepped outside, the cool crisp night air of Ishgard helps clear her mind a bit. Unsure of it all, she takes a moment to pause and star at the stars. Will there be more of these dreams? Are they an omen of things to come? She shakes the thoughts from her mind, and heads back inside to get some rest the remaining part of the night. Only time will tell why now of all times these memories of a past Echo come rushing back.

Knowing Aikirees though, it always has a reason…