There we were… just standing there, in Lower Jeuno. It was rather jarring for me, but I suspect for Aikirees, it was a far different feeling. A feeling that I could only ever imagine, and one do I not suspect many if anyone around her could. The stories she told ‘Tess’ and I growing up, all those years ago, we thought they were just that.
Aikirees told many stories about Vana’diel when we were all very young, still living in southern Othard. She told the tales of how she grew up in a placed called The Republic of Bastok, before traveling to a Gustaberg, highlands named Konschtat, sandy dunes of Vulkurm. Adventuring through those places and seeing a Kingdom of Sand.. Sand’Oria I believe she called it, Federation of Windurst, and of course Grand Duchy of Jeuno.
Vana’diel to her was far more that just stories she kept telling us, with tales talking about the the aforementioned, but so many more places in such detail as well! Aikirees would insistingly keep telling ‘Tess’ and I that this was all real and she had been there. We would usually just dryly humor her in agreement in fear of getting mother’s wrath upon us for teasing Aikirees. I think she knew we were doing so, but looking back, I wish I had listened and believed her more…
Somehow, in some way however, mother seemed to always know she was right. ‘Tess’ and I never really did understand what mother meant, but it seemed to resonate with Aikirees, and it made her happy. Even after we fled our village to start anew in Kugane years later, she still would tell the tales from Vana’diel, even if she told the same one multiple times – she certainly had her favorites!
Even with us being older, and I still just thought they were fiction, she found comfort in telling them and I began to take a similar sensation in hearing what she told to the point where I’d engage back asking about specifics. She always knew what to say as well!
Once she grew into her Summoner role in Eorzea, she picked the outfit she wears to this day claiming it was the one she wore in Vana’diel. While initially I thought it was a rather… unique combination, I can understand why she adores it so much – even more so now witnessing what I have.
I looked over at her, grabbed her paw and gave it a gently squeeze. She didn’t really react, just kept looking over Lower Jeuno. Knowing she knew everything about this place and how much it meant to her made me want to hug her so badly, but I resisted the temptation.
“I’m sorry… So sorry for how we treated you all those years ago. This was your home at one point, in another life, wasn’t it? We’ll set this right, we’ll fix this just like we always do – together.” A faint smile appeared on Aikirees’s face, nearly invisible to see unless one was around her as long as I have been. Still not reacting, aside from a gently squeeze back to my hand in return.
~For Vana’diel, ‘Little’ One~