On Wings of Silver :: 04
I encountered a young gunbreaker today by name of Dorran Kaide. He was charming and complimentary, as so many people often are — until they learn that I’m not a single woman. He offered to help me by crafting a magitek gadget that could help track Jack’s father when he undertakes that search. As much as Valeria and I tried to talk him out of it, I have a feeling that he will obstinately pursue his father, even if it means going into the Void to do it. With the use of Dorran’s invention, however, I hope to make Jack’s search as short as humanly possible. The less time he has to spend in the Void the better.
Speaking of Jack Nasty-face, he extended an invitation to me to participate in his Nameday festivities. I hadn’t realized we were friends enough to warrant an invitation, but it would be discourteous to decline. I plan to attend tomorrow, then afterward Valeria has sent word that she wanted to see me. And, of course, after I speak with Jack about Dorran’s offer, Dorran himself wanted to see me again. It’s proving to be a busy sennight for me, not that I’m complaining. I’d rather this than poring over the ledgers for the Silverwing. At least if I have other things to do, I can leave them with the Quartermaster in good conscience; a captain cannot be everywhere at once, after all, one must delegate.
Jack’s name-day celebration was held in a pirate-themed bar in Moraby Bay called Bink’s Brew. The menu was small, but everything on it was well-made and delectable. The patronage was varied, though mostly filled with wallflowers. Even sharing Jack’s name-day cake didn’t really provoke them to interact. I did manage to engage one elezen in conversation as he sat beside me at the bar, eyeing Jack’s birthday cake longingly.
Yunnoux Jeangael was an adventurer out of Mor Dhona, a machinist by trade, who self-taught himself about magitek. Had I not already encountered Dorran, I might have considered speaking to him about the aetheric compass to find Jack’s father. But one specialist at a time. Regardless, the man was charming and complimentary as well — I swear I bring it out in people sometimes.
After the celebration, I spoke to Jack about meeting with Dorran to which he agreed. He left me with the card to his pawn shop in Limsa, one for me and one for Dorran, and the agreement that he’d at least hear Dorran out before he decided on whether or not to accept his help. And, really, that’s all I could reasonably expect.
After I left Jack, Valeria Camena came over with a basket of baked goods shaped like carbuncles, knowing how much I love the construct creatures. We spoke on the matter of Jack and his foray into the Void, I spoke of the possibility of going with him, to be a decoy for the voidsent who would be more drawn to my excess of Light aether. If they were focused on me, then perhaps Jack could sneak through beneath their notice. At that suggestion, Valeria voiced her own concerns that the Void could potentially damage me on a mental level, given that I’d already visited that dread place once before. I assured her that thusfar I was largely unscathed; I hadn’t been alone when I went to rescue Reynard. And we hadn’t been there long enough to truly be scarred by the place.
My aether, of course, now hold a faint Void tint, but not enough to alarm anyone. In fact, it’s mostly unnoticeable within my Light-based aether, save to those who are familiar with my aetheric signature. Still, I promised Valeria that if there were something I could do to alleviate her worries, I would. If she wanted to etch some of her runes of protection on me, as she planned to do with Jack, then I was amenable to that.
Valeria, however, had other ideas. She said that if I planned on going into the Void with Jack, then she wanted to come with me. I couldn’t agree to that. I couldn’t bring her into that level of danger. Certainly not after seeing what happened with her during the debacle with Ilaroth, to say nothing of the affects of her Echo. What if she touched one of the voidsent? I can’t put her at that much risk. Mother and Father would never forgive me for it. They love Valeria just as much as they do me these days. Plus, Valeria has a Free Company now that needs her here, not gallivanting into the Dark Beyond where who knows what could happen.
She made her arguments, driving home the point that she’s the expert on the Void that I recommend to everyone, because I know and understand her experience and her level of study on the matter. She also pointed out that were our positions reversed, I wouldn’t let her undertake something like this alone. And of course, on that I have to agree, I wouldn’t let her do this kind of thing without me, even if she had her entire Company at her back. So, I relented. In the event I go with Jack into the Void, I promised I would take her with me.
We talked for a while longer over cookies and milk, just catching up with each other for a time. It was a welcome thing. I’ve missed my little sister, but even I understand that sometimes we need to take time to ourselves. To figure out things for ourselves and find our own path forward. After the loss of Hydaelyn, Valeria was almost lost, so lost that even I couldn’t reach her. She had to find something to believe in, something to invest in with the absence of her chosen deity. She found that in the new Free Company she’s now part of, but still she longs to find something else. Something that she hasn’t yet found. I wish I could help her figure out what it is, but only Valeria can answer that question. All I can do is be there for her to help her whenever she needs it.
With the hour having grown so late, Valeria took herself off but not before assuring me that I’d be seeing more of her now that we’ve reunited. That’s something that will always be welcome to me, no matter how near or far we are apart, no matter how long it’s been between one meeting and the last. My sister is always welcome in my life. Always.
