One late night, well after all of us had turned in for a nice rest, Laureine decided to step into the wandering corridors of The Archives for some light reading. She’s not unfamiliar with The Archives, as she has done this many of times before, while initially just to place old documents from my desk to the main entry point area in the early summers of being part of EOCA. She’s always had a fascination as to what old tomes, books, and documents she’ll stumble upon in there within The Archives’ many many winding corridors; however, no one really knows what one will find within The Archives now, as it’s become its own entity upon itself.
After a few bells of simply wandering and greeting the local will-o’-wisps that reside within The Archives, Laureine found a nice thick book relating to comparisons of Allagan technology (one of her personal favorite subjects) and other-worldly technologies not familiar to even the Alexandrians. She fell into a deep concentration of all the diagrams with incredibly exquisite details that are far beyond my comprehension, but not for very long as about one-third through the pages, Laureine heard something echoing throughout The Archives that had not ever been heard before.
Placing the book back upon the shelf, Laureine decided to investigate whom or what would/could have made such a sound so deep into The Archives. She had her trusty spear capable of being summoned for the ready at any notice, so she wasn’t concerned for her well-being.
“I-it’s probably one of the Missuses, it has to be this far in The Archives…”
Laureine thought to herself as she continued to cautiously get closer to where she heard such a noise. The thought of it being a malevolent will-o’-wisp did cross her mind, but she was on friendly terms with those denizens of The Archives, so it was quickly dismissed.
“Missuses…? Are one of you in here? …Cuz… is this a prank??”
She inadvertently hoped it was Lizicus just pulling her tail, but alas, that wasn’t the case. The closer Laureine got to where she heard the sound, another strange almost voice-like echoed through the corridors. It sounded like a person, but one unknown to her.
“H-ello…? Is anyone there?”
Laureine called out, but with no response, beyond hearing her own voice bounce across the walls lined with shelves. This was a part of The Archives that Laureine, nor anyone really, has ever ventured through in the past. The corridors themselves seemed to bend as time and space that made it up were being manipulated in some way. She grasped the small node that could summon her spear very tightly now, but restrained from using it as to not make matters possibly worse.
This area of The Archives felt darker, and the eerily quiet of no response to Laureine’s call out began to unnerve even her. Upon getting very close to where she heard the initial sound and voice, Laureine turned into a side corridor to be greeted with a rather big surprise.
“A.. a… Viera!? H-here!?”
Laureine thought to herself in disbelieved surprise. She kneels down to check and see how she is – alive, but just mostly unconscious.
“Where could have you come from…”
This part of The Archives is just endless winding and warping corridors with the main entrance yalms away from here; the questions that began to boil up in Laureine’s mind became near limitless. She looked around at the books to try and understand the context of the situation, but nothing really stood out as a clue. Looking on the ground around the mysterious Viera to see if any of those could be of help to even remotely how anyone could have made it back there.
A scroll near the Viera’s back side faintly glowed with unintelligible letters to Laureine. She picked it up and carefully examined it.
“It’s not Eorzean, nor any language I’ve ever come across while traveling the Realm and beyond. Perhaps a Reflection…?”
She decides to take the scroll with her and ask me about it later on, and upon placing the scroll into her carrying node, the Viera stirs to regain consciousness.
“Hnnng… w-wh–..?”
Her eyes open to see Laureine kneeling over her with a concerned expression.
“Who– wh- what are you…?”
Slowly trying to get up from off the cold ground, Laureine assists.
“H-hey, it’s alright. You’re in a place called The Archives held within Eorzea Cartographers’ Headquarters. I’m Laureine, and you are–?”
The Viera winces back from Laureine’s hands.
“What are you!?”
Laureine pauses, unsure of what to make of the inquiry.
I’m an Au Ra, Miss Viera. We’re fairly common here, but I suspect where you’re from, we are not?”
The Viera shakes her head in disbelief.
“I’m a… what…?”
“You’re a Viera, or that’s what you appear to be. The Missus is such one who hails from Southern Othard. Are you familiar with the term?”
The Viera shakes her head at Laureine’s question.
“Never heard of such a place, or this ‘Eorzea Cartographers.'”
The Viera’s ears begin to tingle with subtle twitches to her surroundings.
“W-why is everything so loud? Why can I hear literally everything so clearly?”
“It’s your ears; being a Viera gives you heightened sense of hearing to the point of capabilities no one else really can.”
She touches her long lightly fuzzy ears in more disbelief.
“Argh, I don’t understand any of this. How can I be here, what am I!?”
“W-well, how about a name for starts, Miss Viera?”
“… Elizara.”
“Ah! Well, please to meet you Mistress Elizara.”
Laureine bows to Elizara in greeting like she has done so many times to new folks she has met – more times to me than I’d prefer but she really keeps to her etiquette.
Laureine helps Elizara off the ground and begins to explain where they are, what continent, City-State, and what Etheirys is to give her some sort of foundation to see if any of it helps. Unfortunately, Elizara seems to be completely unaware of where she is.
“So, none of that helps?”
Elizara shakes her head more puzzled than before.
“N-no, it doesn’t. L-aureine was it? C-could we please get out of here. The sounds of this area are starting to give me even more of a headache…”
“Ah! R-right! Apologizes, Mistress. Let us quit of this place and see what The Missus has to say about what to do.”
Elizara shakes her head in annoyance.
“P-please, just… Elizara. I’m no Mistress.”
“A-pologizes, Mistress. It’s rather habitual.”
She shrugs at Laureine and the two of them begin to slowly with caution make their way out of The Archives. The winding feels like it takes many bells before reaching the entry area. As Laureine opens the door to HQ’s first floor, she glances at the wall time-keeper to see only a single bell had passed since her entry into The Archives.
“W-well that’s new…”
She remarks with some disbelief at the lack of time that had passed.
“W-well seeing as only a bell has passed since my journey through The Archives and meeting you has happened. It’s still the middle of the night. You can stay in my chambers until the morning. I have a very comfortable area with a warm fire to make you feel at home, I hope.”
Elizara’s annoyed bewildered expression that she has kept for most of the journey out of The Archives softens.
“…Thank you.”
Hearing this delights Laureine as she had been worried all this time of hostilities.
“…Let’s also find you some clothes so you’re not wandering around in skivvies too.”
Laureine lightly chuckles to help break the ever-softened tension. Elizara looks down at her clothes, or rather lack-thereof and smirks in return.
“…Y-yes, I guess that would be a good idea, it’s freezing in here!”
“Ah! R-right! One fireplace coming up – that is one accompany we very much do no lack in HQ, Mistress! I’ll get you some tea as well?”
Elizara shakes her head.
“Coffee. Black. Please.”
“R-right! Th-this way, Mistress.”
Laureine begins to escort Elizara to her chambers as the night continues for a set of practical clothing, a warm fire, and apparently a strong cup of coffee. This is just the beginning as Elizara adventures have only just begun…