video; August 12, early evening

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia is sitting in her room, straight-backed as ever. The edge of her deep red peasant blouse can be seen a couple inches below her collarbones. Thankfully, she's chosen to doff her frankly gigantic red mage hat, the tip of the feather barely visible in the frame behind her. ]

You're sure it is working? How is one supposed to - ah, I see.

[ Ahem. ]

Good evening, everyone. I hope this message finds you well.

You're not writing a letter, it's a video! Relax!

[ The moogle gets a sharp look that says, "don't interrupt me." It works. ]

Firstly, I owe several people an apology. I deceived you; my name is not Alma Beoulve. I am Queen Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. I am newly come to Vaikuntha, but before being brought here I was one of a number of Heroes of Light on Crystallis.

[ She looks down for a moment, brows furrowing. This is clearly hard for her.

'Twas not my intention to lie. I simply felt...as though I could not continue on as myself. I was amongst the first group of Heroes to be brought to Crystallis, but was taken by the Calamity before seeing the conflict through to its end. As the founder of the Heroes' Guild, I failed my comrades. I was ashamed. I still am. However, there is work to be done, and thus I appear to you all in this manner.

[ Ashelia takes a sip of water before continuing. ]

I now see, as I learn to use this device, that the girl Ashelia has appeared to others. The true identity of the girl is Princess Sarah of Aqures Ixen, the kingdom the Heroes of Light first appeared in. She appeared to me in the garden the day I arrived here.

She...she is scared. She seemed scared. [ She shakes her head. That's not the point. ] She is being kept by someone. Who knows the danger she puts herself in when she visits us. [ Though, sneaking out against the wishes of others is very in character for the young girl. There's the beginning of a smile at the corners of Ashelia's lips and eyes before she continues on. ]

As for the identity of her captor, I couldn't say for sure, though I have my guesses. The Princess said her captor is a woman who has forgotten happiness. And wants everything to end. We...we must save her. If nothing else, she once again holds the answer to the riddle that is Vaikuntha. I promised her I would come for her. I intend to keep that promise.

[ There's a pause as she considers whether or not to say this last bit. ]

She also asked me to look after you all. I gave her my word that I would, and I do keep my word. Just...know that.

Comments

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[dreamsoftomorrow]

I doubt your friends think you failed them. If they were here, they likely would tell you otherwise.

[He offers her a small smile. He has some experience on what she said happened to her. In a far different manner, but he feels like he gets where she's coming from regardless.]

It's nice to meet you again, Queen Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. [His smile widens a little.] That's a long name, is there another way you'd like to be addressed?

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[desertbloomed]

I appreciate your kind words, and you may be right, but it changes naught. I pushed to be a leader, made assurances and promises, and I was unable to see them through.

[ Ashelia smiles back, haltingly at first. ]

Ah...in my home of Ivalice I am known as the Lady Ashe. I suppose that will do just fine here.

Well met, Hope.

[dreamsoftomorrow]

Yeah, but it wasn't due to anything you did that you couldn't follow through. It sounds like it was completely out of your hands.

[He nods.]

What do you plan on doing here, if you don't mind me asking? Aside from looking out for us.

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[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia sighs, shaking her head. ] Nothing. We've the problem at hand laid out before us. We need simply pull on the strings until it unravels.

On Crystallis, I started a guild for we displaced. I acquired real estate for an headquarters and accumulated not a small amount of steady income through trade deals and adventuring to fund various expeditions and missions, both martial and diplomatic. Perhaps I shall take the same tack here...although not immediately being labeled as Heroes may make that somewhat more difficult.

What is it you fill your time with, Hope? [ And, completely unspoken, how might that help the cause? ]

[dreamsoftomorrow]

No one really expects us to be heroes. They're treating us like any outworlder they've had in the past. Although I'm sure with more outworlders there will be more help to find a way to send us home safely.

[He tilted his head at her question, looking thoughtful.]

School, mostly. Learning what I can about this world. It's what I would have done back home, circumstances being what they were. But it's kind of up in the air, I suppose.

[Truth was, he wasn't sure what more he could do just yet. But, he knows he'll figure it out soon enough.]

[desertbloomed]

They've not said as much, but there are too many similarities to the previous cycle for us displaced to not serve a similar purpose. The same origin myth exists, but in the context of how the previous cycle ended. I would be immensely surprised if we were not brought here to once again be sacrifices to the Calamity. [ The words are said with no inflection at all. Sorry, Hope. ]

[ School? Hope did seem young, but surely not that young. ] Perhaps, 'tis for the best. You'll learn more of this world's culture and customs than any of us through such intimate interaction.

[dreamsoftomorrow]

You mean that we were brought here on purpose after all?

[So, again, he wouldn't have a choice? He sighed softly. It wasn't that he would say no, and they still needed to find out all the answers before coming to that conclusion.

But still. Hadn't there been enough fighting?]

Mm. It would be a shame to not continue schooling in any capacity, really. They're also pretty helpful to those of us who are not from here. I was placed with other kids my age, but they're making accommodations given the circumstances.