"No lands must remain beyond our grasp. Go forth. Conquer. Rule."
Emet gazed upon the skies of Rak'Tika filled with light and remembered how he lead the march across the lands of Doma and Gyr Abania, such memories…He loved the image he created that time, it really made Garleans believe in their own superiority, in the strength of a leader who will bring them victory. Scions looked at him with annoyance.
"Forgive me. A sudden pain of nostalgia for those halcyon days. Exploring virgin territories, subjugating primitive peoples. All for the glory of Garlemald!"
"If you've brought your ivory standard, I'll be happy to tell you where to stick it."
"Can we not simply take a moment to enjoy the view together? Or would you rather I spied on you from the shadows? Much more of this, and I may very well begin to regret my show of good faith."
Minfilia looked at him with hope.
"If…if you really want to stay, then help us fight."
"No, I think not. I am an observer-nothing more. Even shielded by the shadow of these boughs, I feel the light's presence most keenly. To accompany you is taxing enough. Fighting is out of question."
"I will suffer your company if I must, not your commentary."
If so they wished…Emet was interested to see how it all played out.
…
Before Yotsuyu reunited with Emet, she spent her time exploring Rak'Tika, there was something very appealing about the spirit of adventure she could feel in this doomed world. While Emet wanted to document the progress of the scions on their path to the lightwarden, but she didn't follow him due to being sick of seeing their faces already, despite half of them being first meetings.
It must be how the warrior of light felt, at some point at least, before he was tasked with a burden of saving this world. To be an adventurer with powers above the ones of average mortal and just to have life to herself, the life of discovery and enlightenment. This was all a lie, of course, neither of them truly had freedom, not while there was fate of the universe to decide, not while they were in the shadow of their gods.
It was then when Emet-Selch found her.
"Hello again, enjoying the view?"
"A bit, at least here you can hide from the light."
"So you prefer shade too? Then we're in agreement on that."
"I thought you would stick with scions."
"I considered it, but you wont believe how boring they are! I can barely even fulfil my role as an observer."
"Guess what, that's exactly what I told you."
"Oh, don't be a prude. Truth is, you are vastly more entertaining than them."
Yotsuyu smiled.
"Be careful not to let them see how flattery can you be."
"Won't be a problem. Truth is, I am still in the mood for a small forest walk, and I even know where to go. I suppose you would join me."
"Do you run out of things to show?"
"After living for so long that certainly would be no simple task. Come, see for yourself."
Emet teleported them to the cavern further into Rak'Tika, a very remote place but this clearly was not his first visit. She could see a large chamber in front of her, surprisingly it was not as dark as one might've expect.
"After you."
"How many of these hiding spots do you have?"
"I can choose them at any moment as much as I like, nothing too new."
"And what did you want me to see?"
"Look around and you'll understand."
Yotsuyu looked at the walls and noticed a number of painted murals, the burning city and the summoning of a dark primal, the two beings, one of pure darkness and another one of light above the praying city.
"Hydaelyn and Zodiark…I wonder how could these drawings last for so long."
"The memories of what once was still remain, carved into the walls of these forgotten places. And for us, another reminder. How are your visions going, by the way? I would expect that after some time has passed after the blessing."
Yotsuyu shook her head, her mind was apparently taken by Hydaelyn and her cryptic signs.
"Perhaps we will need more of you shards for that."
"What does it feel like…You know, to be rejoined. Will I become a different person? Will I gain memories of a reflection?"
Emet just shrugged.
"I was never sundered so I'll never know."
"But what about your other ascians? Have they ever found their reflections?"
"No, truthfully, this will be our first time."
"And Zodiark agreed to do this, but apparently never before?"
"Yes, why so surprised?"
"He seems to promise a lot, but never fulfilling his promise."
Emet seemed mildly annoyed by this.
"When I said that you remind me of Persephone, I didn't mean this."
"But this is reasonable, isn't it? He destroyed one of the worlds, never rejoined anybody and couldn't keep Amaurot stable without deaths of the vast majority of our people."
"Then what do you propose? To turn away from our god, turn down his power? Perhaps once again become slaves of Hydaelyn and help her preserve the broken world which she created? I'd sooner perish than bend my knee before her!"
Truth was, she wasn't sure of what to propose. Yotsuyu didn't understand why Emet's belief in Zodiark was so strong considering his previous deeds and demands, but it was true that there were no alternatives.
"I won't join Hydaelyn, I just to make sure we actually finish our job, you want the same, don't you?"
Emet made a deep breath.
"You're right, I remember how this talk ended last time, but I suppose there is no harm in asking. The answers will have to wait, however, and I would advise not to confront Zodiark on any of these, he keeps you on a short leash."
"Of course not, do I look suicidal to you?"
"A month ago I would have said yes."
"You helped me change my attitude."
She could see a faint smile on Emet's face.
"I'll come back to the scions before they get themselves into much trouble. You're welcome to join."
"Not now, it would get too crowdy for me."
"We will come to this area eventually, perhaps even in this chamber."
"Will you tell them?"
"Yes."
"Just like that?"
"They already know more about us than most inhabitants of the Source, perhaps this might plant some seeds of doubt in Helios's mind."
"In that case, I'll find you soon enough."
"Good luck, and try not to get yourself killed unless you want to have a body of a viera."