Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe the performance I witnessed this morning!”

Aruna was just making his way through Limsa Lominsa’s Aetheryte Plaza, which was more crowded than usual for this time of day, when this exclamation caught his attention. An energetic Elezen woman was nearly bursting with excitement as she recounted her experience to a dour-looking Elezen man. Ishgardian nobility, judging by their attire. Curious, he stopped for a while to listen.

“Marvelous, simply marvelous, I tell you!” She kept gushing. “Oh, I am so glad we decided to stay in the city for a while! Just imagine, if we headed for Costa del Sol yesterday, I would have missed this performance of a lifetime!”

The man sighed. “Yes, my dearest, I know you like music.” He said in a monotone, unimpressed voice. “Limsa Lominsa is famous for its spontaneous bard performances, or so I hear.”

“Pfft, bards. Don’t speak to me of them!” The woman waved her hand dismissively. “Limsan bards are adventurers, darling. Some are talented in their craft, I admit, and yet they pale in comparison to true professionals who dedicate their whole life to the art!”

“You witnessed a true professional, then?” The Elezen man asked, looking slightly more interested.

“Yes indeed!” The noblewoman nodded. “And not just one, no, it was a whole troupe of professionals!” Her excited voice took on a breathy and dreamy tone as she announced: “The incomparable, the transcendent… Troupe Falsiam of Radz-at-Han!”

‘Radz-at-Han, huh…’ Aruna thought to himself. In his travels, he’s been all over Eorzea and a significant part of Othard, but the mysterious island of Thavnair was a complete enigma to him. 

“My, sounds intriguing.” The Ishgardian nobleman said with some degree of amusement. “What kind of troupe are they?”

“A dance troupe!” His wife explained excitedly. “They perform the ancient art of Kriegstanz, a dance form that is as beautiful on stage as it is deadly on the battlefield, or so I hear!” She sighed dreamily. “Oh, the dancing… It’s breathtaking, my darling, simply breathtaking! It grips your soul, it lifts your spirit, makes you forget all your worries! Why, I haven’t felt this exhilarated since I witnessed the performance of the legendary songstress F'lhaminn!”

“Truly?” The nobleman seemed genuinely surprised for a second. “That is high praise indeed. Perhaps I should consider…”

“Oh yes, my darling, yes, please do!” The Elezen woman grabbed her husband’s hand and held it close to her chest with both her own. “They’re giving another performance this evening, about three bells from now. Please, I would love to see them again with you!”

“Oh, alright.” Her husband acquiesced with a small smile. “Mind you, we will be late for our transport to Costa del Sol if that is the case…”

“Ah, pish-posh!” The woman waved her hand dismissively. “The beach can wait. I don’t even know if I’ll like swimming in the sea. But what I do know is that I will absolutely enjoy the performance! And so will you.”

“As you say, my dearest.” The nobleman bowed courteously and kissed his wife’s hand.

The Warrior of Light looked thoughtful as he watched the Ishgardian couple leave the square. Three bells was just enough time for him to finish his errands and grab a bite to eat before the show. After all, with such a glowing review, who wouldn’t want to see what the fuss is about?

Aruna arrived at the performance venue early… Or so he thought, because the square was already quite packed. Dragoon armor had become like second skin to him in the past few months, and he barely noticed the weight of the spear on his back, but such crowds called for casual attire. He hid his weapon and changed into a simple glamour of a white short-sleeved shirt and black pants before making his way through the crowd.

He spotted the Elezen couple from earlier - the lady was fanning herself animatedly, whether from the heat or from excitement he could not tell, while her husband was looking as dour and stoic as before.

“Hey… hey, check it out!” He heard a whisper from somewhere to the side. Curious, he glanced in that direction, trying not to betray the fact he was listening in. It was a Miqo’te, elbowing her Auri companion. Both women were adventurers, judging from their garb and weapons. The Xaela had a rather impressive-looking axe…

“What?” The Au Ra looked annoyed. 

“A male Viera!” The Miqo’te nearly squealed. “Oh, he’s so cute, I just can’t!”

Aruna rolled his eyes. He wasn’t that pretty. Not compared to some other males he’d seen in his life. Straight reddish-brown hair in a simple and practical slicked-back style, held in place by an elaborately-decorated coronet that prevented it from ever getting into his eyes. Thin pointy ears a bit on the shorter side. Pale skin that sun tan just refused to stick to… He always liked his violet eyes, though. Yet for some incomprehensible reason all other races seemed to find Viera the epitome of beauty, males and females alike. He really didn’t see why.

“Hey, do you think I should approach?” The Miqo’te whispered again.

“I thought the other one was more to your tastes?” The Xaela raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, are you kidding?” She put hands on her hips and lashed her tail in an agitated way. “That one’s waaaay out of my league… This one, though…” Her voice gained a purring undertone at that.

Aruna turned to look the Miqo’te straight in the eyes. “Sorry, ladies, I’m taken.” He stated bluntly, channeling his best impression of Estinien. She gasped, startled, all the fur on her body bristling. She either didn’t know or forgot that Viera hearing was just as sensitive as that of a Miqo’te, which should’ve been obvious from the large ears. The Xaela burst out laughing, and the coeurl-girl blushed a deep red, then dragged her friend deeper into the crowd. Aruna watched them go with a soft and amused smile. 

One thing did catch his attention, though. The Au Ra said ‘the other one’.

Viera were a rare sight in Eorzea, and males even more so. So rare that some Eorzeans believed male Viera didn’t exist at all, which was ridiculous. He wondered where those two had seen one…

He didn’t have to wonder for long, for a group of musicians in exotic Thavnairan garb approached the venue from the other side of the square. And leading them was…

Aruna gasped. Tall, lanky, agile… Long and wide ears… Auburn-brown hair, like the bark of a pine tree, short, poofy and unruly… Narrow lavender eyes, dark freckles dotting his pale skin… An attractive face, pretty even by Viera standards…

He knew this male.

The exoticly-dressed Viera immediately grabbed the attention of the crowd, both with his appearance and the sheer presence as he took centerstage and addressed the audience:

“Welcome, welcome one and all!” His melodious voice rang loud and clear as he raised his arm in a beautiful, graceful and poised gesture. “Thank you for gracing us with your presence tonight! From the distant shores of Thavnair, from the magnificent city of Radz-at-Han, we come to share our ancient art and light up the streets of Limsa Lominsa with our performance! Troupe Falsiam!” The crowd clapped, whistled and cheered. “The performance shall begin shortly, as soon as our dearest musicians finish tuning their instruments and the opening act gets over her jitters.” Soft laughter and giggles passed through the crowd. “Yes, the first act of tonight’s show is none other than our very own rising star, Ranaa Mihgo! Followed by yours truly, Kamil Kamalan.” He took a deep bow as the audience clapped once again. “I would also like to remind you all that tonight is our last performance in this fair city ere we depart for Ul’dah. So I bid you, ladies and gentlemen… For just this night, leave your worries behind. Let all sorrow and strife be washed away by the flow of our music and dance! We’ll make sure it’s a night to remember!”

The crowd cheered as the beautiful Viera bowed deep once again, and then walked over to the musicians. He leaned closer and said something to the flutist, who looked into the crowd and nodded. Aruna watched the Hyur approach the audience.

“Hey you, Viera!” He made a beckoning gesture with his arm, then looked somewhere behind Aruna. “No, not you, the male one!”. The Warrior of Light rolled his eyes and made his way through the crowd, muttering apologies to the people he bumped along the way. 

The crowd murmured as the musician led Aruna over to the other Veena, who immediately smiled and held his arm out in invitation. Smiling back, the Warrior of Light clasped hands with him, and the two pulled each other close, giving each other a heartfelt pat on the back. That seemed to placate the audience, who realized that the two male Viera were clearly acquainted, and thus this unfair opportunity to be close to the star was perfectly excusable.

“Sorry for not approaching myself.” The pretty male addressed him in Vieran. “Last time I made that mistake, my costume suffered quite a lot, and I do have a performance coming.”

“No offense taken.” Aruna smiled. “Kamil, was it?” 

“Indeed. Kamil Kamalan, at your service.” The performer, whose real name was Kjali, introduced himself. Thanks to the power of the Echo, the Warrior of Light understood the meaning behind his names. Though not as straightforward as Vieran Rune-names tended to be, the forename implied beauty and perfection, while the surname invoked an image of a lotus flower. “And you? What is your name out here?”

“Aron.” Aruna introduced himself. “Aron Devraix.” He picked this name in honor of his parents, Arnur and Ronja. And while ‘Devraix’ was a horribly misheard and misspelled ‘Rehw-Dvre’, he ended up liking the Elezen meaning of ‘true’.

“Aron… Hmm…” Kjali said thoughtfully. “I feel like I heard that name somewhere before…”

Aruna chuckled. “Oh yes, I’m an adventurer of… some renown.” He didn’t want to deal with the excitement and awe that his title as the Warrior of Light would inevitably bring. “And you? It’s so bizarre to run into you of all people, in Limsa of all places, leading a performance no less! I don’t know what I expected… but definitely not this.”

The pretty Veena laughed softly. “A strange coincidence, is it not? Though I’ve seen stranger.” He sighed wistfully. “How many years has it been? Thirty-four? Thirty-five? Last time I saw you, you were not fully grown yet…”

“We can reminisce and talk of home later.” Aruna interrupted him. “For now, I am dying to know how you ended up joining a dance troupe of all things.”

Kjali chuckled. “Oh, it was through extreme luck, or perhaps Fate.” He pointed to a couple standing in the back near the musicians: an elegant-looking Hyuran woman with grey hair was coaching an elaborately-dressed Miqo’te girl. “See the Hyur? That’s Nashmeira. I chanced upon her debut performance in Rabanastre pretty soon after I left. She made a mistake in her act, and one of her chakrams went flying towards the crowd. I caught it.” He smiled warmly at the memory. “Even made a little game of not giving it back right away, putting on a fun little bit for the audience. The old troupe master, Radhesh Kamalan, gods rest his soul… He was so impressed, he offered me to join the troupe and become a Dancer, which I of course accepted.” He sighed. “It’s not like I had many other options… Dalmascan Viera do help each other out, but work was scarce, hunting regulated by law, and living on handouts is… degrading.”

“I can relate.” Aruna nodded. It was natural that Vieran males, whose very lives depended on being self-sufficient and providing for themselves, would find it hard to depend on the mercy of others. “I didn’t have to rely on any, thankfully. The Eorzean Adventurers’ Guild is a godsend. Even simple tasks can earn you coin…”

“So I’ve heard.” The pretty Veena nodded back. “Anyroad… Me and Nashmeira, we used to be co-stars for a while. Quite a long while by Outsider standards… Thirty years or so.” He chuckled bitterly. “Other races wither so fast… It seems like only yesterday she named me Kamil… Now she’s training her replacement.” He sighed and looked at the Hyur with fond sadness. “I may carry our master’s name, but she’s the actual troupe leader, not me. And I’m sooo thankful for that… Sometimes I feel just as lost in the Outside as I did when I left the Jungle…” He shook his head. “I’m just a showman, you know? I’m helpless when it comes to organizing, or funding, or inventory, or balancing the books…” He paused. “Unless you mean literally. That I can do quite well.”

“Oh?” Aruna raised an eyebrow.

“Yes… I went through hell to fix my posture.” He glanced at Aruna. “And you could work on yours too.”

The Warrior of Light rolled his eyes. “Not interested in performing, thank you.” He replied, catching the unspoken meaning.

A grin appeared on the pretty Veena’s face. “Ah, but would you perhaps be interested in the combat capabilities?” He said alluringly with a glint in his lavender eyes, showing off one of his chakrams to Aruna. “Kriegstanz is more than a performance art. The chakrams are not just for show. And the threats we deal with are…”

But before he could elaborate further, the two Viera were approached by Nashmeira.

Chapter Text

“Kamil, we’re ready.” The troupe master said sternly. “If you’d do the honors?”

“Of course.” The pretty one replied in Hyuran and smiled at Aruna. “I’ll be right back with you, my friend.”

Nashmeira watched him take the stage to introduce Ranaa Mihgo, but then addressed Aruna. 

“Kamil might not have realized it, but I recognize you, Warrior of Light.” The troupe master said quietly. “Take this, commune, and watch the performance carefully.” She placed something into his hand.

Aruna didn’t even need to look, he recognized the special energy a Soul Stone always seemed to radiate. He saw no reason to refuse - after all, she wasn’t asking him to join the troupe, and he was always curious about new techniques and combat styles... He closed his eyes and communed with the Soul within the stone, allowing the knowledge and the skills to flow into him.

Immediately, the world gained an extra dimension. As a Dragoon, he was already familiar with the increased spatial awareness that came with passively reading the aether around you, but this…

Aruna now felt the crowd. 

In a way, it was similar to communing with the Green, yet on a much smaller scale and not nearly as overwhelming. Every soul was a firefly, each varying in color and size, in purity and intensity. The music started, and the souls vibrated in excitement, glowing brighter…

“I sense that you succeeded.” Nashmeira said, and Aruna could feel the smile in her voice. “What do you see them as?”

“Fireflies.” Aruna replied.

“Curious.” Came Kjali’s voice, amused and warm. “I saw the same, at first. Though the image we Dancers like to use is that of a flower. Listen carefully to the stone… Can you shift the vision?”

It was rather easy. Each firefly morphed into a glowing flower, somewhat more solid and full of color. “Done.”

“You’re a natural!” Kjali complimented him. 

“Indeed.” Nashmeira agreed. “Now open your eyes, look at the audience - and keep an eye on their flowers.”

Aruna obeyed - and now the nameless flowers were merged with the person they belonged to, blooming on their chest, glowing softly over their heart. Even if a physical body blocked his vision, he could still see the flower clearly.

Some were clear, in full bloom, glowing brightly and healthily. Some were closed, dim, yet slowly opening up and brightening at the sound of music and the sight of Ranaa Mihgo dancing. And yet…

Some of them looked… sick. Withering. Such flowers had something akin to grey moss or ash-like mold growing on them. Some were starting to downright decay, losing their will to live to the ash.

“Why are they…” Aruna started to ask, but then Ranaa entered the final act of her dance, and he found himself speechless.

She spun and twirled and spun in place and reached out with… with something. This whirlwind of green and orange and yellow and feathers and joy that swept away sorrow was… definitely not aether, he knew full well what aether looked and felt like. No, this was… the feeling right before a limit break. This was… emotion…?

The dance culminated in an explosion of turquoise light that washed over the crowd to the sound of a drum. Just for a moment, two ribbons of light spiraled around Ranaa, crowned with the wings of a butterfly, and disappeared with a chime, taking the rot and decay away with them.

Aruna stood slack-jawed as the crowd went wild with cheers and applause. Ranaa bowed deeply three times, and then hurried over to Aruna, Nashmeira and Kjali, who applauded as well.

“Bravo, bravo! Well done, Ranaa!” The pretty Viera complimented the younger dancer, joy and pride shining in his lavender eyes. “You’re getting better every day!”

“Thank you, Kamil!” Ranaa smiled sincerely. “It’s an honor! And who’s this?” The Miqo’te looked at Aruna, her tail swishing side-to-side in a curious gesture, then gasped. “Do we have a new troupe member?!”

“I… haven’t decided yet.” Aruna managed to stutter. This was a bit much to process.

“He’s a special case, Ranaa.” Nashmeira said calmly. “Even if he doesn’t officially join the troupe, I do hope he’s willing to learn our techniques…” She looked up to the sky. “Because something is coming.”

“Huh?” Aruna looked up as well, but saw nothing. 

Kjali chuckled. “Later, Mei, later. Right now, there’s still my act to go through. And I’m certain it will convince our… adventurer of some renown.” He winked at his friend and took the stage once again. And only now did Aruna notice that not all flowers were cleansed by Ranaa’s technique. The ones too far gone, the decaying ones, remained…

“Ladies and gentlemen!” The showman addressed the crowd, and they hushed down to listen. “Ah, it pleases me so to see your shining smiles and hear your applause! There can be no greater reward for a Dancer than the joy that we bring! …Aside from generous donations, of course.” The crowd laughed at the joke. “But the art of Kriegstanz is more than a beautiful dance form, as you shall soon see.” He lowered his voice and said in an almost conspiratorial tone: “Legend has it, this dance was a gift. A gift to mankind from the mystical Fae, creatures of magic and mischief, to save us mortals from the brink of demise… And today, I shall perform for you a part of that legend.”

“Is this true?” Aruna asked quietly.

“Who knows?” Nashmeira shrugged. “All we have from those times is a translation of a fragment of a ballad… Yet true or not, it makes for a compelling story. Though our master did speak of seeing a faerie in a dream…”

“Mind you, we use rather life-like illusions in our shows, so be not alarmed.” Kamil informed the audience. “And with that, I present: Totentanz!”

As the crowd applauded, the Dancer put his chakrams down on the ground, took several steps back and stilled. To Aruna’s surprise, it was Nashmeira who took the stage next. The aging woman raised an arm in a poised and practiced gesture and recited a poem:

The King of the Fae sang the Song of Despair
Through heart, mind and soul did the vile song blare
And mortals, both guilty and punished unjust
They danced to the Song, till they crumbled to dust

Yet people of Voeburt had pity of Fae
For if mortals vanish, who will come to play?
They came in a dream and taught Falsiam fair
A War Dance of Joy to combat the Despair

Fair Falsiam came, and did battle the beasts
By strength, song and dance was the Faerie King pleased
They ended the Song, and the mortals were saved
From the Dance of Despair, from decaying away

As she left the stage, she signaled to the musicians. The performance began.

The poem spoke of joy, and so Aruna didn’t expect the music to start with sad, anxious notes. Kamil punctuated the sadness further, dancing in place with slow, fluid motions, conveying the feeling of hopelessness with his whole body. After the first short pause, he also began taking small steps around - and reaching out, calling, slowly pulling back and forth, projecting his despair, calling for help, but found either nothing or more sadness. And the decaying flowers resonated with that.

With a cascade of downward notes, it looked as if he was about to fall, succumb and collapse… But instead, the guitar strummed and he rolled forward, ending in a knelt position right between his chakrams.

He picked up the weapons and ran in a wide circle close to the crowd, touching the resonating flowers in the process, then adding leaps and twirls and flourishes as the circle he ran in shrunk back in a spiral-like manner, until he ended up in the center again. With another strum, he assumed position, one of his chakrams held close to his chest.

The next movement was a technique Aruna recognized from the Soul Stone, punctuating the powerful strums and projecting a beautiful light show for the audience. Emboite - a Red Rose, Entrechat - a Blue Bird, Jette - a Green Leaf, and Pirouette - a Gold Crown. And after repeating these moves several times in faster and faster sequences, an explosion of light and emotion followed - a challenge to the Fae King. 

For a while, Kamil danced solo - and unlike Ranaa, whose chakrams never left her hands, he took the exact opposite approach, tossing them high in the air, spinning and twirling them around himself with physical strength and aether as he moved, agile, acrobatic and mesmerizing to watch. But then he called, and the act wasn’t solo anymore.

Five ashen flames ignited in the crowd, clouds of grey decay forming above them. They moved towards the stage and coalesced, taking the form of five monsters.

The crowd gasped, but Nashmeira cried to remind them: “All part of the show, everyone!” as Kjali used another technique. Pink light flooded the audience, briefly engulfing each person in a lotus flower, shielding them. And after that, the Dancer let loose.

‘A dance form that is as beautiful on stage as it is deadly on the battlefield’, Aruna recalled the words of the Elezen noblewoman as the performer unleashed a flurry of metal and light and explosions and feathers. The description was certainly apt. Unlike the audience, he could tell that the monsters were real, though the feeling was… off, in a way. They were there and not there at the same time, something terribly wrong in their forms, yet Aruna had no words to define it.

The monsters were dealt with rather quickly, yet the dance was not over. One stubborn flower remained - the dour Ishgardian Elezen Aruna had seen earlier. He was watching the performance with empty eyes, unmoved by the show or the light. And so the Dancer took a more direct approach - a ring of golden petals rose up from him and lowered down on the Elezen, linking their souls.

His sorrow was deep - he had lost both his wife and his son in the Dragonsong War. And though he was now remarried to a wonderful woman, a part of his soul had died with them. He couldn’t help it. The world was never the same, it had lost all its brightness and color… Sometimes… sometimes he wanted to follow them.

‘I feel you.’ Kjali projected as he danced to the song. ‘I know this sorrow, I know this desire to end it all. Yet you must live. Live, my friend, live, and vanquish the despair.’

With a green lotus of Devilment to empower them both, Kjali called again, and the Elezen shuddered as a twisted wyrm sprang to life around him, taking to the skies and roaring. The Dancer did not let it get away - giant green fans appeared in his hands as green energy collided painfully with the monster, causing it to turn back and attack him. Yet it was all part of the plan as he unleashed blow after blow on the Blasphemy, each movement projecting the one thing that had carried him through the decades of hopelessness and humiliation in the Jungle - his unbreakable will to live and his insatiable lust for life.

The battle ended in a limit break - Kjali dashed through the dragon towards the audience, leaving patches of lotus flowers in his wake, and a moment later the air behind him was sliced with crimson blades of blinding light.

The dragon dissolved into a cloud of ash, and the song slowed down, repeating the sad melody from the beginning. Yet it now spoke of peace, of returning home and of rest - the Viera finished the dance, and the Elezen wept.

Stunned silence reigned for a moment of eternity - and then the crowd erupted into cheers, screams and whistles. Flowers showered the Viera, some patrons outright throwing gil at his feet. Smiling and exhausted, Kjali Copihwesfv of Ymir, known in the Outside as Kamil Kamalan, star performer of Troupe Falsiam, bowed to his audience.

Chapter Text

Later, when all the cheering was done with, all autographs given and all donations collected, the dance troupe retired to the Drowning Wench to rest and celebrate a successful performance. The tables that could accommodate all of them were taken, and so they had to split the party - the musicians took one table, and Aruna, Kjali and Nashmeira sat together at another. Ranaa was indecisive for a bit, contemplating which company to join, but then the cute flutist beckoned her, and she made her decision.

“Oi, Baderon!” Aruna called, waving to the bartender and head of the Lominsan branch of the Guild. “Give my friends a feast - their meal is on me tonight!”

“Ya got it, Aron!” The Hyur grinned, then looked at a waitress. “Ya heard ‘im - nine specials, on the double!” The Miqo’te smiled and disappeared into the kitchen.

Kjali gasped. “Oh no, we couldn’t possibly… We, we made bank today! I…”

“Hush.” Aruna commanded. “I’ve got this. It’s the least I can do.” A grin then spread on his lips. “Besides, I didn’t say that I’ll pay for your drinks.”

“Oh.” The pretty one blinked. “That’s… fair.” He said, suddenly feeling even more nervous. He didn’t drink alcohol unless Nashmeira bought it for him, but he knew it was expensive.

“It’s alright, bun.” Nashmeira smiled, leaning back in her chair. “I know exactly where we are financially, and I say that we are more than able to indulge ourselves.”

Kjali sighed in relief. “Thank you…” He said quietly, folding his ears back, and then leaned to the side to place his head on Nashmeira’s shoulder. “What would I ever do without you, Mei…” He mumbled softly, closing his eyes.

The aging woman smiled and dug her fingers into his short unruly hair - and Aruna felt pangs of jealousy at this display of affection. Not the possessive kind of jealousy, no, it’s just that the gesture reminded him of the loved ones he left behind… His One and his kit, who was barely a toddler when he left, and who must’ve already presented by now…

But he had no choice but to answer Hydaelin’s call. And here he was, the lonely Warrior of Light…

His musings were interrupted by the arrival of the Miqo’te waitress from earlier. “Good evening, folks.” She greeted them. “Can I getcha something to drink?”

“Do you have mulled wine?” Nashmeira asked. 

“Of course! Several recipes even.” The waitress smiled. “I recommend ‘The White Maiden’ - it is made with white wine, golden raisins and apples. There’s also the new Ishgardian recipe we’ve acquired recently…”

“Ishgardian.” Aruna interrupted her, making his decision. He also wasn’t fond of alcohol, but this particular beverage was an exception.

Nashmeira nodded thoughtfully. “We’ll trust your judgment.” She said for herself and for Kjali, who didn’t care one way or another… and actually seemed to be falling asleep.

“Mm-hmm.” The waitress smiled. “I’ll just get you folks a bowl and three cups and make it a discount, a’right?” After an approving nod from Aruna, she went to get the other table’s order.

“Now. Let’s talk business.” The Warrior of Light put both arms on the table, entwining his fingers together. “What in Hydaelin’s name was all that?”

Nashmeira hummed thoughtfully. “Where do I start…” She then looked the warrior in the eyes. “Forgive me if this sounds rude, but… how would you describe your education?” She said cautiously.

Aruna sighed. “In the company I keep? Lacking. I know the Green Word, or at least the parts of it that were taught to us by our Lorekeepers when we were kits… It does include verses on how the world operates.” He crossed his arms. “Some aspects do carry over - what you call Aether, we call Mist. The Elements are the same, though we say Heavenly and Worldly instead of Astral and Umbral, and I think their order and relation to each other is different… Don’t quote me on that, though.” 

“Some aspects don’t carry over.” He continued, then paused thoughtfully. “This is a bit hard to translate, but… Hearken, Viera, for Word of the Green forever shall guide you through Seen and Unseen… I don’t think you Outsiders make that distinction. At least, not as a part of the same system.” He looked up, staring at nothing in particular. “The material and the spiritual seem so separate in your mind, in your ‘science’… A proponent of one would ignore the other. But I know for certain that the Seen and Unseen coexist and entwine and influence one another. Of all the disciplines I’ve tried, only Conjurers and Monks seem to get it…” He sighed. “I tried studying Arcanima out of curiosity, but it is a field so utterly devoid of feeling that I just couldn’t do it.”

“I see.” Nashmeira smiled. “Well, not all science is like this. Astrology, for instance.” She summoned a Star Globe into her free hand, surprising Aruna. “Yes, while I am mainly a Dancer, I’m not getting any younger… And so I’ve studied other ways that I could help my troupe. The science of Heavens and Stars and Fate has proven exceptionally useful to us…”

“Useful… how?” Aruna frowned.

The conversation had to be paused, for the waitress had arrived with their mulled wine. Aruna poured a cup for himself and for Nashmeira, who considered waking Kjali up, but ultimately decided against it. She ordered the wine to help her bun relax, for his emotions tended to be all over the place after a performance… But it seemed that today was an exception.

“Thank you.” She dispelled her globe, took the cup and sipped the wine. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh my. Ishgardian, you say?”

“Yes. They got it… almost right.” Aruna said with a wistful smile. After all that he went through in the Dragonsong War, this drink had a special place in his heart.

“I need to ask for the recipe. This feels so… comforting…” Nashmeira whispered, then cleared her throat. “Ahem. Back to business… Allow me to go over some basics first.”

“As you’ve correctly noticed, Eorzeans tend to separate the material and the spiritual. That is because the most prevalent school of scientific thought in Eorzea is Sharlayan in origin.” The troupe master explained. “The Sharlayan school posits that aether is the fundamental form of all energy, and the most prevalent form that energy takes is corporeal aether. I believe that is what you Viera would call the Seen, and that is what most disciplines of War and Magic manipulate to their advantage.” She closed her eyes. “Yet anyone who’s ever experienced the desperation and exaltation on the battlefield that allows you to break your own limits, can tell that the picture is incomplete. No, there also exists another force, coexisting and entwining with aether. And that… is what the Hannish Alchemists call akasa.”

“Akasa…” Aruna repeated. “Can’t say I’ve ever heard the term.”

“Very few have.” Nashmeira nodded. “It is an esoteric field of study, and knowledge is scarce… Indeed, in the Dancer teachings, that same energy is called Esprit… What we do know is that it’s an unseen force permeating the fabric of reality, which can’t be detected or manipulated by conventional means… It can only be felt. And it only responds to emotion.”

“Emotion, huh…” The Warrior of Light said thoughtfully. “Well, I’ve certainly felt that during the performance… You’ve found a way to harness it then?”

“In part, yes.” The Hyur nodded. “We’ve found ways to use it alongside aether, for if you try to combine the two directly, they cancel each other out… That is to say, aether dilutes and dispells akasa, like a barrier…” Nashmeira sighed. “But only to an extent.”

“What do you mean by that?” Aruna furrowed his brow.

“You’ve seen the corruption on the flowers, have you not?” The veteran Dancer replied. “This rot is caused by negative emotions. It starts with the soul, which the flower represents, and cannot be detected through traditional means. And if allowed to spread unchecked, it will consume and alter the very essence of a person, transforming them into a beast known as a Blasphemy… And from that, there is no turning back. So we cleanse it before it takes root, and draw out what cannot be cleansed to defeat it in battle before it does lasting damage…” She sighed deeply. “It shouldn’t exist. Normally, the corporeal aether of the body is able to ward off the effects of tainted akasa… But not when it is being bombarded by a constant onslaught of an outside force.”

Aruna frowned. “What force?”

“A part of the legend we tell is true. The Song of Despair is real.” Nashmeira stated. “Only, it has nothing to do with the Fae… It is coming from the stars. It is a constant wail of akasa… And ever since the Red Moon disappeared from the sky, it’s grown louder and louder…” She summoned her Star Globe again. “Fortunately, we've managed to discover a pattern.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. You see, aether comprises the fabric of this star, and flows through the earth just as it flows through the heavens…” She looked at her weapon thoughtfully. “And through the study of celestial bodies and heavenly aetherflow, I’ve discovered… gaps.” She explained. “Where the flow of aether is weak, the Song gets through, and corrupts the souls of the people. And so, I am planning our tours accordingly.” She dispelled the globe. “That’s why we came to Eorzea now.”

“I see…” Aruna said. “Is that why you want my help?”

“In part.” Nashmeira nodded. “But also because you might need our techniques in the coming future. My reasoning, my soul and my cards are all in agreement. That you came to our performance today is a sign.”

A smile appeared on Aruna’s lips. “Coincidences don’t exist, huh.” He mumbled quietly. “Not when Shamans are involved…”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” The Warrior of Light shook his head. “Alright, consider me convinced. Do I have to join the troupe, though?”

The troupe master smiled. “Only for a few performances. I know full well that you have other duties, saving the world and whatnot. Yet believe me when I say, you’ll find no better target for akasa manipulation than an adoring crowd that drinks in your every move…”

“Apologies for the long wait!” The Miqo’te waitress interrupted their conversation, arriving with their food. “We are sooo busy this evening, and it was a large order…”

“Oh, it’s alright.” Nashmeira smiled. “We’ve been so busy talking, time just flew by…” She then gently shook the Viera still resting on her shoulder. “Bunny, wake up…”

“Mmmm… wha…” Kjali groggily opened his eyes. “Was I asleep?”

“Yes you were, and now the food is here.” Nashmeira said warmly. “Rise and shine.”

The pretty Viera sat up straight and yawned. “Did I miss anything?”

“Nashmeira filled me in on what you do and convinced me to join the troupe. For a while, at least.” Aruna smiled.

The other Veena gasped. “Oh my! This is cause for celebration! How about a toast?”

Nashmeira smiled as she poured him a cup of mulled wine, then raised her own. “To Troupe Falsiam?”

“To Troupe Falsiam!” Aruna wholeheartedly agreed, and the three clinked their glasses.

A year later, at the edge of existence… He danced Hope to the Song of Despair.