єяα ☉ ωαrrισr σf ℓιghт (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
astralera) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
boxofthemuses2018-05-14 08:15 pm
astralera) wrote in boxofthemuses2018-05-14 08:15 pm
(no subject)
Sometimes the Echo grants her strange visions that have nothing to do with the world as she knows it.
The first time it happened was the evening after she slew her first Primal, Ifrit. Despite her exhaustion Era thought she would never be able to fall asleep, far too keyed up from the day's events, yet the next thing she knew she was aiding a young boy using knowledge and skills she shouldn't have. Hyaelyn hadn't spoken a word to her about it, but Era was instinctively aware that the child was important to the world he was from. He was in danger, and she would free him from the dream he was trapped in.
When Era woke the following morning it was to Alphinaud's worried face accompanied by his informing her she could not be roused. She had slept a full day for no reason any of the healers on hand could discern. The Auri woman herself could give no answer, for all she could recall was that she had an odd dream.
It happened every now and then, always at unexpected moments. The boy quickly grew to tower over her by the third encounter with Noctis Era realized it was more than just a simple dream. Time passed oddly between their worlds. There was no consistent pace to it. It may have been months since her last vision but only a few days in the realm of Eos, or hours for her and weeks for him.
Always it felt like a dream no matter that Era knew otherwise. She felt disconnected; intangible. But Noctis could see her regardless.
In Eorzea she fought Primals and the First Brood. In Eos she would revive Noctis and his allies, boosting their strength and defense when they fell. It wasn't an overly frequent occurrence, but when staying in close quarters with allies they tended to notice when she was struck down by the Echo. Haurchefant had been frantic and Era had eased his frayed nerves. He was the first person she confided to about her role as the crown prince's guardian of sorts.
Then he died in her arms as her guardian.
Era did her duty to help Noctis whenever she was spirited away by the Echo, though she struggled for a time to be someone he could lean on for support. She barely had the strength to keep herself going, leaving her with little to spare for her charge. But she tried. Fought tooth and nail to be the guardian the prince needed.
After Ysayle her trips to Eos began to leave her drained even in Eorzea. It was to such a degree that young Alphinaud seemed to take on the role of a protector of sorts during her visions. He was so young - younger even than Noctis was now - and Era could not bring herself to confide in the boy. Aymeric, too, was struggling with all that had happened, as was Lord Edmont.
But then the Dragonsong War ends and a friend thought lost is returned to her. It's revitalizing, though she still finds herself in dire need of a rest she knows she will never get.
Era attempts it regardless, staying at the Fortemps Manor and catching up on the sleep she rarely lets herself have. She is just preparing for bed when her skull throbs with such force that she collapses to the floor, body suddenly devoid of strength.
When she rises she feels... odd. Because though she is clearly no longer in Fortemps Manor and is instead in a room she recognizes as someplace in Noctis' realm it feels much more...
Tangible.
Era can taste salt on the air. It fills her lungs and she exhales slowly, the slightest bit worried for how grounded she feels in this realm. Era has felt more connected to Eos in the past in some of Noctis' darker moments, allowing her to stay for a longer period of time than she usually could, though never quite to this extent.
She worries not for herself, but for her charge. Her tail twitches behind her, an indication of her current agitation.
"...Noctis?"
The first time it happened was the evening after she slew her first Primal, Ifrit. Despite her exhaustion Era thought she would never be able to fall asleep, far too keyed up from the day's events, yet the next thing she knew she was aiding a young boy using knowledge and skills she shouldn't have. Hyaelyn hadn't spoken a word to her about it, but Era was instinctively aware that the child was important to the world he was from. He was in danger, and she would free him from the dream he was trapped in.
When Era woke the following morning it was to Alphinaud's worried face accompanied by his informing her she could not be roused. She had slept a full day for no reason any of the healers on hand could discern. The Auri woman herself could give no answer, for all she could recall was that she had an odd dream.
It happened every now and then, always at unexpected moments. The boy quickly grew to tower over her by the third encounter with Noctis Era realized it was more than just a simple dream. Time passed oddly between their worlds. There was no consistent pace to it. It may have been months since her last vision but only a few days in the realm of Eos, or hours for her and weeks for him.
Always it felt like a dream no matter that Era knew otherwise. She felt disconnected; intangible. But Noctis could see her regardless.
In Eorzea she fought Primals and the First Brood. In Eos she would revive Noctis and his allies, boosting their strength and defense when they fell. It wasn't an overly frequent occurrence, but when staying in close quarters with allies they tended to notice when she was struck down by the Echo. Haurchefant had been frantic and Era had eased his frayed nerves. He was the first person she confided to about her role as the crown prince's guardian of sorts.
Then he died in her arms as her guardian.
Era did her duty to help Noctis whenever she was spirited away by the Echo, though she struggled for a time to be someone he could lean on for support. She barely had the strength to keep herself going, leaving her with little to spare for her charge. But she tried. Fought tooth and nail to be the guardian the prince needed.
After Ysayle her trips to Eos began to leave her drained even in Eorzea. It was to such a degree that young Alphinaud seemed to take on the role of a protector of sorts during her visions. He was so young - younger even than Noctis was now - and Era could not bring herself to confide in the boy. Aymeric, too, was struggling with all that had happened, as was Lord Edmont.
But then the Dragonsong War ends and a friend thought lost is returned to her. It's revitalizing, though she still finds herself in dire need of a rest she knows she will never get.
Era attempts it regardless, staying at the Fortemps Manor and catching up on the sleep she rarely lets herself have. She is just preparing for bed when her skull throbs with such force that she collapses to the floor, body suddenly devoid of strength.
When she rises she feels... odd. Because though she is clearly no longer in Fortemps Manor and is instead in a room she recognizes as someplace in Noctis' realm it feels much more...
Tangible.
Era can taste salt on the air. It fills her lungs and she exhales slowly, the slightest bit worried for how grounded she feels in this realm. Era has felt more connected to Eos in the past in some of Noctis' darker moments, allowing her to stay for a longer period of time than she usually could, though never quite to this extent.
She worries not for herself, but for her charge. Her tail twitches behind her, an indication of her current agitation.
"...Noctis?"
no subject
Noctis snaps at the situation, not at her, but his angry voice is pointed in the small room. He stands, his body still not very grounded, but he finds his balance and walks a few steps before stopping.
"Not wasting time is all I can do now unless I want to let all their sacrifices be for nothing." The prince turns to Era and pain shows in his deep eyes. "She believed I would save everybody, and all I could do was... " His voice cracks and his eyes close. "All I could do was watch while he killed her. What kind of king is this powerless?"
no subject
The pain in his eyes is one she recognizes - she sees it in the mirror every time she looks in a mirror. "You have no control over the lives or actions of others, king or no. It was her choice to aid you despite the risks. Mourn for her loss, but do not put the blame on yourself. It was not you who killed her, Noctis."
It is tempting to tell him just how well she can empathize. That she was in a situation the ended up not so different from his. Though Era doesn't have the comfort of knowing it wasn't her fault, because it was The killing blow had been meant for her, not her beloved friend.
But she hasn't shared with him the true extent of her role in her own world. That she is the Warrior of Light; Hydaelyn's last bastion against the invading darkness. That her sole reason for existing is as the weapon to save her world from all threats.
"You did not kill her. It was her sacrifice to make, not yours. The best thing you can do is honour it. Grow stronger. Push forward. Save as many others as you can."
no subject
Groaning, he looks up at the ceiling, face burning in shame. This isn't something he's telling anyone else so why is he spilling his heart out here?
Because it's her. Noctis knows the answer.
"What the hell kind of king can't save anybody?"
no subject
Era's strength had grown significantly after what happened with Haurchefant, and again after Ysayle. Her desire to protect is what grants her more power than even Hydaelyn's Blessing can offer. She has no doubt that Noctis will grow exponentially from this experience.
"...I can leave with you some supplies that may prove useful."
no subject
But she's right in that Noctis isn't ready to give up. He has to finish this, he has to make sure balance is restored. Slowly, he shifts, drawing the attention from his mind to the girl in front of him.
"Yeah? Help how?"
no subject
Era doubts it would help Ignis overly much. Perhaps enough to see light and shadow, if the injury has not been too severe. "I am not certain if you already have such a thing in Eos, but you are welcome to what I have on me at the moment. I have potions to cure many other ailments as well."