On the Horizon

A Story by Val

Drifting apart

Lamps lit the Aftcastle square as the sun began to set over Limsa Lominsa. A small Miqo’te child sat on a bench with her hands over her eyes. Her soft, black hair fell in between her fingers, and she was murmuring something quietly to herself. A couple walking close to the bench, moved closer to the small child.

“Hey there, sweetie. Are you lost?” asked a soft-faced, blonde, Hyur female. “Where are your parents?” The little child turned her head toward the Hyur and broke into a wide grin. Her divine dark gray eyes reflected the sunlight in an almost bewitching manner, much like two moons. She brought a finger to her lips and shushed lightly.

“Don’t be too loud, Miss. She might hear us.” she spoke in a tiny voice. The brown-haired Elezen male, knelt down next to the bench and gave her a warm smile.

“Who might hear us? He asked nicely, looking to his partner. The child looked around before beckoning for them to come closer. The couple moved their heads in, complying with they little Miqo’te’s wish.

“My sister is hiding, and I’m gonna find her.” she whispered sweetly. The two couldn’t help smiling. They acknowledged the little child with a nod, but the Hyur started to look around. There were only so many places kids could think to hide in the Aftcastle Square, but they would still be easily spotted.

“I’m coming, Val!” shouted the little girl, as she hopped off the bench and ran to the center of the square. The couple followed her, keeping a close eye so that the little Miqo’te wouldn’t get into trouble. “She doesn’t like to run too far,” the little girl thought aloud. “But climbing is never out of the question.” She turned her gaze to the top of the lamp post at the center of the square.

“Are you sure your sister is around here, darling?” asked the Hyur as she continued to search for another Miqo’te child.

“Yeah, but my sister would never choose something as easy as the lamp post.” replied the child. She started toward the Blacksmith’s guild, but something caught her attention. Her little ears wiggled curiously and she turned and started running toward the Missing Member. The couple looked at each other with panic and chased after the little girl.

“Sweetie! I’m sure your sister isn’t in there, that place is for grown ups!” shouted the Hyur as she chased after the spritely little girl. The girl made it to the entrance of the tavern, before the Elezen scooped her up in his arms.

“Whoa there, little lady! You aren’t gonna find your sister in there.” he said with a sigh of relief. Cradled in his arms, the little girl looked up and reached both hands up toward the sign above the door.

“Val!” she squealed with joy, as a set of striking violet eyes stared at the three of them from the giant, overturned tankard that hung outside of the Missing Member. In the time it took the Hyur to gasp in surprise, a little Miqo’te, smaller than the little girl in her partner’s arms landed on the ground in front of them. She whipped her wild lavender hair back, and cracked a grin.

“Aww, how’d you know I was there, Aimee?” giggled the lavender haired girl. The man set the little girl down and as soon as her feet touched the floor, Aimee shot forward and wrapped her arms around the smaller girl. The lavender haired girl smiled and look up while being squeezed.

“You shouldn’t worry, Mister. My sis, Aimee, is a lot smarter than she looks, she’d never walk into a place like that.” She pried herself from her sister’s grip and turned to Aimee. “So, Aimee, did you introduce yourself?” The other girls ears fell a little bit flat on her head. She poked at the ground with her foot, looking anywhere but at her sister. “That’s not good manners at all! Oh well, better late than never!” The lavender haired girl pushed her sister up to the couple and nudged her in the side.

“H-Hi… I’m A-A-Aimee, and th-this is my sister, Val.” she nervously stated, before retreating behind the other little girl.

“Sorry about her,” cheered the other girl, with a beaming expression “Once she figures out that she’s talking to a stranger, she get’s real timid. I’m Valeria, and this is my little sister, Aimee.” The Hyur and the Elezen raised a curious brow to the lavender haired girl’s introduction. “Yeah, I get that a lot.” giggled Valeria, and they realized she meant their reaction to her being older. “Anyway, it’s starting to get dark out and I have to get her home. Thanks for playing with us!”

“You two sweethearts take care, you hear?” replied the Hyur happily and the couple made their way toward the Drowning Wench. Valeria turned to her sister, and held her hands for a moment, before turning toward the Hyaline

“C’mon Aimee, there’s something I wanna do before I take you home. Okay?” Aimee grinned and nodded, and they started on their way.

The two sisters made their way through the Hyaline and to the Lower Decks of Limsa Lominsa. The fishers were bringing in their last hauls and the Yellowjackets were logging their shipments, all ready to rest after a long day’s work, but that didn’t stop the two energetic little girls from weaving in between legs and under crates being carried as they headed toward Valeria’s destination. She led her little sister to the pier that furthest extended into the Limsa Lominsa Bay.

There the two sat down. Aimee sat with her feet hanging over the pier, and Valeria sat behind her Slowly running her fingers through her sister’s soft black hair.

“Hey Val?”

“Hmm?” she responded while still fixing her sister’s hair.

“Do you think you could sing me that song? The one you heard from the handmaiden by Hawker’s Alley?”

“The Sultana’s Lullaby?” Valeria asked playfully.

“No! The other one, about the thunder and stuff.” Aimee answered with a giggle.

“Okay, but I only know the last little part of it… Here goes.”

Step i~in from the storm, praise it’s mer~cy

Let the sting of the rain ne’er stray far from thee

Lightning bright, thunder bold

Freeing us forevermore

Now lift thine heavy head and vanquish thy sorrow

Lightning doth strike

Thunder doth roll

Now turn thy gaze ahead and look to the morrow

Lightning shall strike

Thunder shall… roll o~on

The two girls looked out across the ocean in silence. Two ships slowly drifted apart from each other as the sun beginning to creep below the horizon. Valeria turned Aimee around and smiled gently.

“Aimee,” she said quietly, “Close your eyes, I have a surprise for you.” Valeria reached up and removed a small silver necklace with a shard of Aetheryte from around her neck. She carefully moved around her sister and placed it on her. Aimee’s eyes sprung open with surprise.

“Val, this your Aether Necklace. You can’t just give this to me.” Aimee protested, but Val stopped her with a shake of her head.

“I wanna show you something, little sis. It’s something I learned from my time with the necklace. Hold it up to the sunset.” Aimee did as her sister instructed. The sun reflected from the Aetheryte beautifully, but it wasn’t what she expected. She gave her sister a puzzled glance, but Valeria just moved her hand to where the Aetheryte was over her eye.

“Wow” uttered Aimee, in amazement.

“You see? This crystal lets you see something amazing even if you aren’t having the best of days. It’s what’s gotten me through the hard times while I had to take care of you on my own. I know it’s been rough with just the two of us, but now we’ve been given an opportunity. The Miyumi family, that has close ties with the Arcanist Guild, wants to take you in. You won’t have to struggle anymore.” Val explained with a forced and very empty smile. Aimee gave her a confused look, and lowered the Aetheryte to see her sister clearly.

“What do you mean ‘You won’t have to struggle anymore?’ You won’t have to struggle either. Right, sis?”

“About that…” Valeria started. Her voice failed as she grasped for the right words. “You see… well… Your sis has to go on a trip. I’m gonna be gone, while the Miyumi family takes care of you. Now I want you on your best behavior. Practice those manners I always talk about. A-And make sure you… you eat all your vegetables to grow up big and strong. And k-keep looking as c-c-cute as you a-always do. A-and… And…” The tears couldn’t be held back any longer. Valeria threw herself at Aimee. Hugging her tightly, but not too tight because she knew Aimee didn’t like it. “I’m gonna miss you so much, sis.” She pulled back from the hug with a smile that was wiped from her face. Tears stained Aimee’s face, but her expression wasn’t pained or smiling either it was rather empty.

“I hope your trip goes better than Mom-"” Valeria brought her in close again, cutting her off.

“I swear to you. I will see you again, Aimee. I won’t leave you alone, like Mom left us, I promise. You just hold onto my necklace and think of me every now and then, and my trip will be over before you know it. I promise. Just… Just don’t forget about me, o-okay?”

“I’ll never be able to forget you, Val.” Aimee replied and they held each other tightly until the sun finally set.

“Remember sis. Just be good and take care and I’ll be back before you know it, okay?” Valeria spoke as she hurried with Aimee to the door of the Arcanist Guild. Oh and give this to the Miyumi’s when you get in there.” Valeria handed her a scroll tied shut with a small bit of string

“What’s this” Aimee questioned as she reached for the string.

“Don’t! I’ll do my best to get back as fast as I can, but for me to do that, you can’t open the scroll, okay?” The young Miqo’te nodded. “That’s not gonna cut it. I’m gonna need a Kitty Swear.” Aimee nodded and they faced each other.

“With my nose and ears and bushy tail, I keep this promise without fail. Should I ever think or dare to break, my kitty soul the swear will take.” they both finished together and followed it with a hug before continuing on to the entrance to the Arcanist Guild, slightly out of breath.

“This is it, sis. I have to go. Remember what I said, I’ll see you again, Aimee. I love you.” Valeria stood on her tiptoes but still only reached her sister’s nose with a small peck. She knocked on the door and quickly dashed off toward Hawker’s Alley. The door to the Arcanist Guild opened before Aimee could call for her, and the Guildmaster escorted Aimee inside.