[ True to his word, X’rhun takes Ardyn on a tour of the battle-scarred streets of Ala Mhigo. In the few moons since her liberation, the city is starting to come back to life, refugees returning home at long last, and on their heels are merchants and volunteers for the efforts to rebuild. She has a long way to go, but this is an Ala Mhigo that makes X’rhun proud. It’s in good hands.
And so, he doesn’t linger. He and his companion take to the road, leaving X’rhun’s homeland behind to travel for a spell. There is trouble everywhere they go, but nothing so earth-shattering as the things they’d experienced in their time in other worlds. Bandits here, a rogue monster or two there, and in one instance a mage who’d gotten in far over his head and let a voidsent run rampant across the countryside. Nothing X’rhun could not handle on his own, and he keeps his promise, not once looking to Ardyn for help, even when he returns to their little camp with a fresh dagger wound scored across the back of one shoulder. His own healing abilities are enough, and of all the things, he dares not ask that of his friend again.
Getting to see him, when he returns to the inn room they share for the night, or the small roadside camp they’ve set up, is enough. To say nothing of the nights – which is most nights – that they fall into bed together.
The weeks wear on, and a chill begins to settle into the air, reminding X’rhun with a bit of a shock that they’re coming up on Starlight. Perhaps the X’rhun of years ago would be content to spend the holiday on the road, but not so much anymore. He guides their travels to the wooded city-state of Gridania, with the promise of an extended stay. They are scarce there a day when the snow begins to fall, the locals working despite the cold to hang wreaths and ribbons and shining tinsel all over the town. Something in X’rhun’s chest warms at the sight.
Now winter has well and truly settled over the Twelveswood, and though the snow is nothing compared to that of Coerthas, it is enough to overtake X’rhun’s boots past his ankles as he trudges past the city’s amphitheater, empty and quiet in the cold with a layer of snow dusting the benches and the stage. Ardyn is not far behind him, ever curious and ever willing to stick his nose into things because it amuses him, despite X’rhun telling him to stay behind at the inn.
He’s just going to pick up a package from the local delivery moogle, though he hasn’t told Ardyn as much. At this rate, his friend is going to ruin the surprise. ]
Are you quite certain you wouldn’t rather wait back at the inn?
~timeskip noises~
And so, he doesn’t linger. He and his companion take to the road, leaving X’rhun’s homeland behind to travel for a spell. There is trouble everywhere they go, but nothing so earth-shattering as the things they’d experienced in their time in other worlds. Bandits here, a rogue monster or two there, and in one instance a mage who’d gotten in far over his head and let a voidsent run rampant across the countryside. Nothing X’rhun could not handle on his own, and he keeps his promise, not once looking to Ardyn for help, even when he returns to their little camp with a fresh dagger wound scored across the back of one shoulder. His own healing abilities are enough, and of all the things, he dares not ask that of his friend again.
Getting to see him, when he returns to the inn room they share for the night, or the small roadside camp they’ve set up, is enough. To say nothing of the nights – which is most nights – that they fall into bed together.
The weeks wear on, and a chill begins to settle into the air, reminding X’rhun with a bit of a shock that they’re coming up on Starlight. Perhaps the X’rhun of years ago would be content to spend the holiday on the road, but not so much anymore. He guides their travels to the wooded city-state of Gridania, with the promise of an extended stay. They are scarce there a day when the snow begins to fall, the locals working despite the cold to hang wreaths and ribbons and shining tinsel all over the town. Something in X’rhun’s chest warms at the sight.
Now winter has well and truly settled over the Twelveswood, and though the snow is nothing compared to that of Coerthas, it is enough to overtake X’rhun’s boots past his ankles as he trudges past the city’s amphitheater, empty and quiet in the cold with a layer of snow dusting the benches and the stage. Ardyn is not far behind him, ever curious and ever willing to stick his nose into things because it amuses him, despite X’rhun telling him to stay behind at the inn.
He’s just going to pick up a package from the local delivery moogle, though he hasn’t told Ardyn as much. At this rate, his friend is going to ruin the surprise. ]
Are you quite certain you wouldn’t rather wait back at the inn?
[ Leave him alone!! ]