Time and Tides Archives

Although still not used to dealing with a young child, Kain had also done what he could to put the boy at ease along their way. Which meant mostly keeping quiet and not saying anything that might discourage him. Just acting protective should hopefully be enough, anyway.

Fortunately, that trip hadn't gone too badly and they were finally at their destination. He had been told at some point in the past about the odd customs of the dwarfs... so was ready for it when they arrived. After giving what was probably the least enthusiastic "Rally-ho" ever heard, Kain followed along into the village.

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Delita had never traveled through Conde Petie before. Following the lead of his compatriots, he calmly responded "Rally-ho". While he would be thankful when he was not responsible for a child anymore, it had been pleasant having company for a change.

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Luckily, they need not have known what Mikoto looked like, for she stood out quite plainly as one who did not belong to the Dwarf village; Pale skin, light blond hair brushing just past her chin, and a long, fuzzy tail to match. Certainly normal looking enough (aside from the tail), and for that, she stuck out in Conde Petie just like a sore thumb.

It was the distinctly non-dwarven voices giving the usual greeting, that made her turn. This must be the group she was meeting.

And sure enough, there was Vie, hiding behind the legs of one of the men. Turning quietly on her heel, Mikoto walked straight toward them.

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eidolon-soul.livejournal.com

Rydia perked up as the distinctly non-dwarven girl approached them. She smiled, nearly certain this was who they were supposed to meet. "Hello! You're Mikoto, right? I hope we didn't keep you waiting too long. I'm Rydia, and my companions are Kain Highwind and Delita Heiral." And little Vie, who she glanced over at with a smile. At least now he was with someone more familiar.

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Kain stood with arms folded and waited quietly as the introductions were made. He was glad though, relieved that the child would finally be where he belonged. Not to mention in more capable hands. Kain might know how to protect and defend him against the threat of an attack, but... anything more about dealing with kids was beyond him.

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"Miss Mikoto", Delita responded by way of greeting. "'Tis our honor and pleasure to reunite you with your wayward little friend."

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tidesnpcs.livejournal.com

Vie recognized the dwarven village and their mode of greeting. They'd arrived! Still, Kain stood very tall and the little mage couldn't see around him. Hearing Rydia greeting Mikoto, he leaned to one side, to peer out from behind his dragoon shield.

"Mikoto!"

For the first time since departing from Guadosalam, Vie left Kain's side and rushed to the Genome he knew so well.

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Mikoto turned to each of them individually, nodding in greeting. As Vie rushed to her, the smallest of smiles cracked her otherwise stone-like expression.

"Thank you for returning him. I was quite troubled when I heard that he had been missing for so long," she said.

Truly, she was grateful, and also relieved; as cold and unemotional as Mikoto could be, and seemed to be, she had a certain attachment to the mage children, and the thought of one of them being hurt was more troubling than she shared.

With a warm pat on the brim of Vie's hat, Mikoto turned her attention back to his 'entourage'. She looked to each of them again, with an appraising eye. "What is it that brought you so far out on this continent?"

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eidolon-soul.livejournal.com

Used to unemotional people, Rydia took Mikoto's muted reaction in stride. As long as Vie was happy to be with her, that's what counted. She hesitated for a moment, wondering what to say in response, then decided that the blunt approach was best. Maybe Mikoto would be able to explain what happened, or at least piece together something they missed. "We died, more or less. It was the epitaph attacks. The other day, I awoke at the Iifa Tree and found everyone else along the way...except Vie, who seemed to appear out of thin air in Guadosalam. I don't suppose you might have an explanation for any of that?"

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Kain actually could understand Mikoto's subdued nature very well, being just as reserved, himself. He glanced at Vie as he seemed to be very glad to be reunited with her. Well... that was good. Perhaps Kain would even miss having the kid following him around, in some weird way, despite having felt so uncertain how to deal with him. He looked at Mikoto.

"You're welcome. And... Rydia is right. After our... encounters, we all woke at the tree. None of us can explain how it happened."

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Delita thought back to what had happened and was glad none brought up the events prior to their meeting. Although, understanding what happened was extremely important to him. It would not serve him well to remove any wayward princes and kings if they would return a week later all the wiser. He would need to tread more carefully than ever. "'Tis unsettling to reside in Lindblum one moment, at the tree the next."

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Pale brows wrinkled, the closest thing to expression that the genome had shown since her arrival. Since the revival of the tree, and the appearance of the Mist, Mikoto had wondered about the Tree. Still, never had she ever thought it would be connected to Life and Death in a manner such at this.

"I will tell you, that's not what the Iifa tree exists for. In fact, it was made for exactly the opposite. You should count yourselves lucky to have been granted this second life. Although, that it would be because of Iifa, makes no sense to me."

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tidesnpcs.livejournal.com

During all of this, Vie stayed glued to Mikoto's side. Glowing yellow eyes shifted from Dragoon, to Knight, to Summoner, and back and forth, as the conversation around him moved. It all seemed so complicated!

"I don't know how I got there," he piped up, as though it hadn't already been covered.

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eidolon-soul.livejournal.com

Rydia shrugged, just as baffled. She hadn't forgotten what Dagger and other natives had told her about the tree, yet what other explanation was there? If it's not the Tree's doing, then I have no explanation as to why we awoke at its roots."

She smiled at Vie, then nodded to Mikoto. "Nor do I understand why Vie appeared out of thin air, just after another vanished...unless that's always an equal trade? One person vanishes from this world and another reappears?" Penelo had been in Gaia for a long time, but Rydia suddenly wasn't sure if that fact was at all relevant.

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"It's possible..." Kain glanced thoughtfully at Vie. Before this, he'd never seen anyone disappear or reappear in such a manner... perhaps that was how it happened? It made enough sense, that there should be something of an exchange. The information about the tree itself was strange, though, and he frowned more deeply as he wondered about that. It couldn't be a coincidence that they'd arrived there, but it seemed none of them understood why.

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This was more complicated than Delita could fathom. If there was an exchange of people, did that mean his Ivalice was overrun with new inhabitants as well? He wondered if returning home, would present more nobles abusing the people. "'Tis with trepidation that I wonder if our own worlds have received greater impact than we comprehend."

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