Character

"Emet-Selch was a very tough instructor, GT," I told G'raha Tia, the Crystal Exarch, over a dinner in his personal study in the Ocular days after passing the professor's two-part examination at Amaurot and The Dying Gasp proving ground in the Tempest, now being stewarded right across by the Ondo, designated joint keepers of the Akadaemia Anyder with the citizens of the reconstructed city. "The journey you and I went through was essentially his course of several days on the history of the First, of Norvrandt, of the Ascian lore..."

"A return to school, is it?" said G'raha, sipping an espresso con panna sitting next to a cup of hot masala chai and a plate of risotto al nero. "I was suspecting so."

"Setbacks and retakes notwithstanding, based on my personal meeting with the professor, he is one of the few opponents outside of my alter ego, who I respect and sympathize with. As soon as he said 'Remember us, remember that we once lived,' he also said, 'With this, you pass my examination. Now go, and finish what you started, you, Kahori Harukawa, the White Witch of Okami Rojo, the Warrior of Darkness, the true savior of this star.' I then said to the professor, 'it was an honor being your student, Professor. Thank you for being my teacher.' And with one last handshake, he disappeared into oblivion, his story finished and work done. I would have him reborn as a minion so that he can see what his newest and last graduate does next, his memories restored and his tendency to snap his fingers now and then."

"I wouldn't rush into that taking place but I feel you've left the right impression, Kahori," G'raha said, beaming before eating his risotto. "Mmmm, squid ink...I believe a similar dish occurs in your world?"

"An Italian dish, but yes, it's a satisfying meal, an underrated one at that."

A knock on the door. "Enter," GT said.

"Am I bothering both of you?" asked Alphinaud, accompanied by Alisaie, returning from their recent meetings with Lord and Lady Chai, a.k.a. Nuzz and Dulla.

"Well, well. If it isn't the Grand Artiste Alphinaud Levailleur and his more esteemed sister Alisaie," GT said, a sinister beaming of his eyes telling no lies while eating quality rice. Alisaie chuckled.

"Alisaie, get hold of yourself, godsdamned you!" Alphi snapped.

"I believe it was my ladyfriend here who labeled you as the Real Ala Mhigan Calamity based on your innate inability to swim for malms on end, often being in a incapacitated state, wanting to turn into a sin eater," he added, rubbin salt in a time-honoured wound.

A throb, the gates thrown so wide open they flew off their foundations withing a half bell. "Heavens...heavens...take me..." And he collapsed again.

"Not again, Alphinaud, hells, hells! Get up already, enough of the act!" Alisaie said, trying to stir up his brother's tainted soul in vain.

"Kahori...how I want...to partake...in thy...in thy... in...! Ahh!"

"And stop having fetching thoughts about her you fool, she is a bonded and older than you! The perversive scenes in Eulmore have left their course, have they not?! Is that what you were thinking when we were washed up on the coast!?"

GT took out his staff and gave it a tap, allowing Alphinaud to get back to his stances. "Ah, forgive me, I tend to do that after being taken far out of my comfort zone. Anyway," said Alphinaud, having a seat and having a bite of some caramels, "There has been some massive developments in Eulmore after the defeat of Vauthry and Ran'jit and Emet-Selch, the professor as you call him.

"The military has been restructured and a transition government is taking place while new elections are being planned, including a platform focused on revitalizing the Derelicts and Gatetown to give its people a reason to become skilled laborers and seek out a decent living, maybe even rebuild their dwellings into more safer structures away from the restored elements."

"A law outright banning the sale, possession, consumption, production and so on regarding meol and other products containing sin eater flesh and byproducts is being moved through the chamber of government and it is set to pass when it goes to a ballot," Alisaie said. "Similar laws are being enacted in Rak'tika, Il Mehg, Amh Araeng, here in the Crystarium, Lakeland and the Tempest Ondo Cups, with the citizens of Amaurot understandably abstaining from making a decision. Furthermore, representation from parties in Tomra, Stilltide and Wright will be brought in for the new government in Eulmore, now designated to be a source of power and revenue for all Kholusians," said Alisaie.

"I am seeing lots of people in the villages gathering, fishing, even hunting to sell goods to be sold and it's drastically improved their quality of life," Alphinaud said. "It's Limsa Lominsa all over again! For the first time in a century, rainstorms have come to Kholusia, allowing the yields to skyrocket and the first shipments of cash crops are being shipped to the Crystarium, Mord Souq, Lydha Lran, Slitterbough and Fanow. The return of darkness has allowed the return of normal commerce and just now, there has been a memorium of understanding between the Crystarium and Eulmore, effectively making them partner cities for all of Norvrandt! Now THAT is a work of art! Wouldn't you agree, sister?"

"You're the artiste, Alphinaud, not me." Cue the cheesy Elezen bow from the boy.

"And I would like to add to that," said Feo Ul, coming in with the Fuath representative, Lord Aenc Thon. "Since the return of the shadows, tourism to Il Mheg has increased and many are going through the Ostall Imperative to get in. But there had been a unique happenstance. Aenc, would you care to share?"

"Greeting, champion of Norvrandt, it's your host from Dohn Mehg, me, Aenc Thon with a report," Aenc said, bowing. "It seems we Fuath have been noticing a surge in veteran spearfishers hunting for fish or treasure outside Dohn Mehg. We were wondering how these souls did not drown, and after Lord Urianger explained it to us, we found out that the spearfishers come from your star, the Source and have gone through a special enchantment process from our virtual kin, the Kojin, namely a Lord Sorobon, who bestowed on your the power to dive, breathe underwater and spearfish as a result. So this was a not a conincidence. As champions of our realm, we of the Fuath hope you find joy gathering what you need in Il Mehg. And that's my report."

"So, we shall return back and if you need me, my dearest sapling, you know what to do. It's bye for now, Kahori, G'raha!" said Feo Ul as she and Aenc Thon left.

"Looks like the situation is pretty good over there," G'raha said. "A missive from Almet has told us that tourism in the ruins of Ronka has skyrocketed and the thrill of running through the not-so-hidden temple has been a source of revenue for the Viis of Fanow. Also, an anonymous message from a citizen of Amaurot has mentioned that there is a rise in the hunting of cubits for their flesh, which I assume is useful for master alchemists. And that's all the updates," he said, as the twins took their leave and returned to Eulmore to be indulged by Dulla.

So me and G'raha continued to talk about the next steps, as well as some tough news in my home world regarding an outright act of terrorism in my home country, in the most sacred of cities, Kyoto. The two of us shared a prayer for the metropole. My only wish is that the lyrics of "Tomorrow and Tomorrow' the anthem of the Crystarium and Eulmore, be used to motivate and inspire my nation to rebuild itself and return stronger than ever.