A World Below Us (Ark Aberration/Final Fantasy 14)

A Walk Gone Wrong

The sun beamed through the trees as we traveled down the dirt path. A lovely summer day, perfect for an early morning walk before the craziness of adventure. I had managed to convince Alphinaud, who had awoken early, to come with me on my little stroll. We had left the rest of our friends, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, asleep back at the rising stones. A bird chirped overhead. "It's such a beautiful day! Don't you think?" I turned to my friend. Alphinaud nodded and smirked. "Your mood seems pretty good today too." He remarked. "Today? What's that supposed to mean?" I asked. "Oh, nothing. Except that you aren't normally like this... it's more 'Oh another primal, how typical. Just my luck. Of course this happens to me because my life is the worst'." Alphinaud giggled. "Oh shut up, I did not say that!" I retorted, giving him a playful punch in the shoulder before continuing my stroll. I heard a rustling in the woods beside us and saw a flash of.... a black cloak? "Alphi! Did you see that?" I asked, alarmed. "Hm? See what?" Alphinaud replied. "There was something in there..." I pointed towards where I heard the noise. He looked at me and we both nodded. Together, we slowly crept up on the trees and bushes, keeping as quiet as we could. I signaled and we jumped behind a large oak. I was half expecting there to be a thief or something, but no one was there. Alphinaud glanced around. "Are you sure you saw something?" He asked. I nodded. I had definitely seen something. "There's nothing here." Alphinaud said after a few more quick glances. I heard a bit of worry in his voice. "Maybe we should head back to the rising stones." I offered. We both nodded and started back on the trail. But no more than a few seconds passed before a black figure darted across the path ahead, so quick it was just a blur. Or maybe my imagination? Alphinaud flinched and grabbed my arm. He had seen it too. "I say we follow it." I blurted out. The elezen boy looked at me like I had tentacles sprouting from my ears. "Are you mad? We don't even know what that thing is!" He exclaimed. "Exactly. And there's only one way to find out!" I said with confidence. Alphinaud sighed. "There's no way that I'm going to change your mind, is there?" I shook my head. "Nope. Now come on." I took off toward where the figure had gone, desperate to see what it really was. We ran through the forest, scanning along the trees for any signs of danger. I stopped running after a while only to realize Alphinaud wasn't with me. "Alphi? Alphi! Where'd you go?" I yelled. Someone grabbed me from behind and clasped their hand over my mouth. I startled and tried to scream, in which the person behind shushed me. "Jackie! It's just me!" Alphinaud whispered. I stopped struggling and Alphinaud let go of me. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!" I scolded. Alphinaud waved his hands and shushed me again. I cocked my head to the side. He pointed through the trees and my miqo'te ears turned in that direction. Understanding entered my mind. Voices. Alphinaud put his finger to his lips and motioned for me to follow him. We stepped through the woods and the voices got clearer. "It's so powerful, it can fuel anything! Not only that, but it can be used as a weapon itself! The possibilities are endless!" Said an excited voice. I flinched. I knew that voice. I turned and saw Alphinaud looking at me. He knew that voice too. Lahabrea. "Oh please, this power source can't truly be that great?" A different voice said. I knew this one too. It belonged to Emet Selch. "I'm telling you, with this new power source, we can create the ultimate weapon! You should have seen the mortals as soon as they ingested it! Rabid beasts, they were!" Lahabrea exclaimed with an edge to his voice that I had never heard before. It made me feel... scared. Alone. Panicked. I grabbed Alphinaud's hand for reassurance. He tensed and I realized what I was doing. Blushing, I let him go and tried to focus on the voices. "Rabid beasts, you say? Surely you jest. Or is this the fabled Element that I've heard so much about?" A new voice. One that made my skin prickle with dread. One that made my tail swish back and forth in a warning. Elidibus continued his speaking. "If this is true, we must get it in our possession before anyone can stop us." He snarled. I swallowed down a yelp when I heard his last few words. They sounded even more menacing than Lahabrea's. Emet Selch spoke next. "Yes, it would be a same if someone were to hear us." Alphinaud tensed. "Well maybe we should yank them out from behind the trees!" Lahabrea screamed. I had no time to react. I was throw up into the air, Alphinaud beside me. An invisible force held us there as the three ascians appeared before us. "Fools. Do you really think you can spy on us?" Elidibus snickered. Oh crap. We are so screwed now. I thought as the three ascians began their advance.