escordvi | closed 🪶⚡ i'll be the light to lead you home

[She squints at the oncoming shape, and the closer it becomes, so too does it become clear that it's a small little thing. She recognizes that voice, too.]

The tapir from earlier.

[Has it come to blow on them again? She remains on her guard, even as it approaches.

"Are you two alright!? What are you still doing down here?"]

[Seeing Benedikta tense up, he tries to put on a grin.]

Just had a spot of trouble.

[And then a wince.]

Don't suppose you could land a hand? Or hoof.

[The tapir now flies around them in a tizzy.

"Waaah, what the jelly!! How could this happen!? I'll have to call one of the kirins—stay here they're not too far away!!"]

Could you not just teleport us awa—

[But the tapir flies off without listening, and she clicks her tongue and falls back to the ground beside him.]

Annoying little things...

[But it returns not long after with a kirin, both of them flying up the same way she and Cid had come. The tapir spins in the air to stop right in front of them, and it sniffs at them both, Benedikta swatting it away as she had before.

"Ah, you two really need to get back...! You're gonna start feeling the effects soon, so it's a good thing I found you!"]

And how are we supposed to get back?

[Cid just watches as the Kirin approaches him first, a clear look of disgust and concern in its eyes as it shakes its head and mane before that white healing aura from before pours out from its horn and envelops him, an odd mix of warmth and coolness alleviating those aches immediately.

"Don't worry, we'll get you there! But we have to heal you up first!!"

While the kirin tends to Cid first, the tapir then swirls around Benna to have water splashed on her.]

Wait, what—?

[She is startled by the water, shielding herself as the tapir splashes her.]

How come he gets the nicer healing magic!?

[She can already feel the difference, the magic working to ease the aches and burns as it settles over her, but why is she the one getting splashed by the little snouted creature!? And now it's blowing at her again!!!]

Cut that out!

[The tapir huffs. "Do you wanna get healed or not, lady!? You're supposed to stay still!"]

[Feeling more of his strength returning, he chuckles a little.]

Honestly wouldn't mind a little "shower" myself. At least you're cleaner now.

[A small nod to her as all the dirt and grime has also washed away while his own still remains.

"Don't worry, buddy, you're next! Phew, you really got put through the ringer, huh? You almost joined us for real!"]

[She at least has enough strength now to shoot both him and the tapir a glare, but she does admit that it worked, and she feels much better already just having that dirt and blood washed from her.

And now the creatures are swapping places so that the tapir can shower him instead, as Benedikta's expression droops, turning from anger into something a little more somber at the tapir's words.

... He had nearly died, and it was her fault. Again.

So lost is she in this thought that she completely misses the way the kirin's magic washes over her, that same warmth and cold billowing over her skin and then settling past it until the aches have nearly disappeared.

A look at the kirin, and then at Cid, her voice small as she speaks.]

Do you feel better now?

[The tapir's words do fall heavy as he lets himself be "bathed," the water doing wonders to wash away the last of the grime and weight, even healing some more of those cuts and mending their clothes so they look not too worse for wear. At the very least they won't get any questioning looks.

As the tapir "dries" his hair, the warm air from its snout blowing it this way and that, he looks at her with a reassuring grin.]

Much, thank you.

[He glances and nods at both the tapir and kirin.]

Feel like I could make the walk.

["Tut tut!" the tapir clicks its tongue as it gives him one last dry over and then looks at the two of them.

"It would take too long! We can just send you right there, not to worry!"]

[She crosses over to Cid and smooths some of his hair back into place.]

... And we can just return to our bodies without any issue?

["Yup, should be able to. You might still feel a little sore and very tired, but that's just because you've been here for a while!"]

That's a relief.

[And then a pause.]

What about any damage to...our souls, I suppose. What with everything we've done here.

[The kirin eyes him for a moment before responding in a strangely deep voice that actually surprises Cid.

"I was able to restore it so that you shouldn't suffer severe consequences of your actions, but you will need to rest for the next few days and not strain yourself. If it weren't for that other being attached to you, you would be dead."

"H-Hey!!" the tapir nervously shouts at the kirin, flying over to wave its hooves around its snout as if to try and shut it up while looking at them both nervously. "You're both fine, that's all that matters!!"

Of course, for Cid this is something he already had a feeling, but to hear it confirmed as well as the severity of it all still make it weigh heavy on his mind.]

[Well that... certainly is not the sort of voice she expected from the kirin... and Benedikta stares at it in disbelief for a moment before its explanation has her frowning, her hands clinging to Cid's shoulders. She had been afraid of that, but hearing it doesn't make her feel much better about it.]

... I suppose we will have to find a way to thank him when we are finished.

[A quiet mumble, as she briefly searches inside herself for Garuda, sighing when she feels nothing of her Eikon at the moment. A good thing that it is quiet...]

And I will be sure that he rests.

[The tapir looks at her, and Benedikta winces. "You gotta rest too!"]

[As if to help alleviate some of this heavy atmosphere, Cid grins and wraps an arm around her waist.]

Not to worry, I'll be sure she rests as well.

[The tapir now looks at him suspiciously...before sighing.

"Please do! I don't want to see either of you back here again for a long time!"

"Now just stay there, we'll send you to the ship," the kirin speaks as a different aura of magic appears at their feet.]

We appreciate the help! Good luck and take care of yourselves as well.

[Benedikta only tips her head slightly in silent thanks, and she takes a deep breath when she feels that pull of magic starting at her feet and crawling up as it spreads. In an instant and a bright flash of light, they are standing on the deck of the ship that they had arrived on.

It doesn't take long for them to be returned to their bodies, and the Guardians were right—she does feel a little strange at first. While it isn't quite as bad as it could have been, she still feels some aches here and there, the attendants on the ship explaining it again as a result of them spending all that time in there, longer than what a normal soul would have been able to handle. Not exactly something that sits well with her, but she thanks them anyway.

After some insistence, though not much argument, they decide that their best course of action would be to head home to the Roost, where they can get the proper rest that they need. She can already feel it starting, and more than that, she wants to take them as far away from this place as possible after what they just experienced...

And as soon as they arrive home, she wastes no time in dragging him to their room so that they can fall together atop it, sinking into the thick blankets and the mattress. They lie side by side, facing each other, feet still slightly hanging off the edge of the bed as she brings a hand to his face, caressing his cheek before it moves to comb through his hair.]

How are you really feeling, Cidolfus?

[The travel time between the Farplane and to the Roost is honestly something of a blur to him. There was a lot on his mind, from when Benedikta was first taken by those souls; to that abomination and the cultists; to his time trapped within his own soul, held hostage by that ghost; to what he had to do to break himself out of it just enough to encourage Benedikta; and then the words left with them before they returned. So really, returning to their home and falling into bed was a blessing after it all.

It also means that when he feels her familiar touch and hears that familiar concern, he can't help but smile a bit ruefully up at her.]

...I feel like you've been asking me this question a lot recently.

I have.

[A pointed look, but it's more playful and out of concern than anything, as she leans in and kisses the crinkles at the corner of his eye when he smiles.]

Because I have been wanting to know the answer a lot recently. It seemed a decent place to start.

[His gaze lingers on hers before he lets out a small breath and closes his eyes, head falling back more fully against the pillow.]

In a word, tired.

[She shifts so that she's more in line with him when he falls back against the pillow, her brow pinching.]

And in not just a word...?

[A pause.]

What happened... when that soul took over you?

Too many words.

[A wry response with a small laugh at the end that breaks into a sigh. With his eyes still closed, his hand roughly runs over his face, pressing against his brows as he recalls it all.

Where would he even start?]

At first I had no idea what happened. One moment we were walking through that tunnel, the next everything went dark and I felt as if something punched me in the back of my head and knocked me out.

[She takes his wrist and gently pulls his hand away from his face so that she can see him.]

That is when it happened...? I'd wondered. You had started to act a little strange, but I thought that perhaps it was because you were tired. You—

[She pauses.]

They had insisted that you were fine.

[A grimace at that, and while he lets her move his hand away, he doesn't quite look at her.]

It was like... The last time.

[There's disgust and frustration at that.]

I had no idea what was going on, just this... Experience of floating in some cold, black void. Only this time it was more... Sinister. I couldn't move, like something was tying me down. It wasn't until I felt a jolt that I was able to "see" that woman who had taken over.

At that point it was almost like seeing Ultima all over again... The way her form kept shifting and changing to people I knew and then something else. The way she could read all my memories, my... History.

[He looks at her then, wearily.]

That must be how she could try to act like me.

[Her fingers continue to move in gentle, soothing movements over the lines of his face, the other over the back of his hand, while she listens to him carefully, her expression tightening the more he tells her.]

She had tried... but something was off. I only wish I had realized what it was sooner... that I had listened to my instincts.

[She is going to blame herself for that in the many days, weeks, months to come. It likely could have been avoided or fixed sooner before they had to go through all of that if she had.]

It was not just you that she had tried to act like, either...

[He looks at her then.]

What?

[She presses her lips together as she looks at him, before they part around a sigh. She knows she likely does not have to given everything now, but she still chooses her words carefully.]

She had attempted to use Barnabas against me, too. She must have been able to see deep into your memories, or perhaps... your feelings.

[A pause.]

It did not work, but... it was as though she were pulling everything about him from your memories. His personality and mannerisms. Tried to use them.

[His expression gradually darkens as she speaks before it ends with utter revulsion at the idea of himself acting like Barnabas. And to use it against her? A sickening weight churns in his stomach as he then recalls everything else that happened.]

If that's what happened...then that makes what I saw have a little more sense. Throughout that time I was trapped she acted like Ultima, telling me everything about my life like some kind of judge, and there was a point when she appeared like Barnabas to taunt me further. Perhaps that's when it happened to you.

[Another aggravated sigh and run of his hand over his face.]

I mostly ignored it, trying to tap into my powers or anything I could use—I could feel Ramuh with me, but it was if he remained dormant. I was also at a crossroads because I also knew she was trying to use it as well, so once I was able to break free somewhat I had to fight to keep that under control.

What...?

[She lifts her head up a little, horrified disbelief on her face.]

She taunted you, too?

[Something vengeful flashes through her eyes, anger flaring and making her heart rattle in her chest. She had destroyed that soul, or so she thinks, but perhaps she had deserved a far more gruesome death than that. Something slow and far more brutal is what she deserved.]

I do not know what she was trying to accomplish with that... it would only serve to anger anyone.

[And it worked on that front.]

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✨ timeskip ✨

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