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The Doman refugees arrived in Vesper Bay shortly after Fafnir helped carry the last crates into the new base in Mor Dhona. Faint dust still sat on every surface in the Rising Stones. Sebek sneezed every other moment. Fafnir had to wipe their nose three times in the last hour, what with the komodo dragon not having proper hands for such things.
When the linkpearl message came through, Tataru reassured them that she could handle the cleaning.
“Go help Alphinaud!” She insisted. Metis twitched, nose working overtime.
“I smell rats,” he said unhelpfully. Sebek looked at Fafnir, who snorted in response. Sebek's appetite was only so funny because daemons did not need food. Fafnir did not feel bad turning heel and leaving.
“Save some for me,” Sebek said before following Fafnir out of the room. Some of the bar patrons glanced at the strange sight — “Do you think they’ve seen a komodo dragon before?” Sebek had asked when the two walked into the outpost the first time, and Fafnir had replied with a shrug — but those who recognized the duo saluted in acknowledgement.
After all, it wasn’t every day you met the person who saved Eorzea.
Fafnir was still not sure what to make of their title. The Warrior of Light was very lofty, very bold. They were just an adventurer who was very good with a lance and an axe. An adventurer who was less nervous attacking a Garlean fortress than teleporting to Ul’dah.
“We don’t have to go,” Sebek pointed out as they prepared to leave. Fafnir looked at them. Both of them knew that wasn’t true. Sebek chuffed. “Fine.”
Alphinaud was standing outside the entrance to the Fragrant Chamber. There was a short woman next to him, her face covered with a hood and veil.
She stared at Fafnir. They stared at her.
They weren’t blind. They knew an Au Ra when they saw one — their mother had similar horns to those that this woman was trying to hide.
The last Au Ra woman Fafnir had spoken to was their mother. It was an argument. Looking at Yugiri made their jaw ache.
For once, Fafnir was thankful that Alphinaud had no hesitation to speak. He offered to help the Domans but requested to hear their story first, leading them off to the Quicksand before the guards could decide they had overstayed their welcome. Fafnir followed mutely, their eyes focused on the back of the woman’s head. She didn’t acknowledge them further. Fafnir hoped they looked stoic and not nervous.
Her name was Yugiri. She was the leader of the refugees, all hailing from Doma.
Her story was tragic. A nation looking to take advantage of the Garlean unrest, only to have their rebellion brutally put down. Now there were only a few boats containing the free Doman population, their prince was missing, and there was no hope to reclaim their home. Yugiri’s voice was steady, but her daemon let out a mournful cry as the tale came to an end.
Her daemon was a bird — a sparrow with a white belly and black patterns across his back and wings. His name was Ame-no-Koyane, a strong and elegant name for an elegant daemon. In Doma, bird daemons had been heavily valued. They were supposed to be flexible, intelligent, and beautiful. Yugiri was lucky indeed.
Lizard daemons were rare in Doma and equally unusual in Eorzea. Sebek, being so large, was usually stared at. They had learned to not mind. Sebek was usually fine standing right at tables with how long their neck was, but right now they were trying to hide behind Fafnir. Admittedly, they were a bit jealous. If Fafnir could, they’d hide too. They had the irrational urge to excuse themself and not come back.
It wouldn’t be the first time they ran from a situation, but they were a little out of practice. That was the reason they gave themself for staying.
“I will speak with General Raubhan on your behalf. The city owes us — surely they can at least listen to your petition,” Alphinaud stated. He stood and turned to Fafnir. “Please assist Yugiri and the other refugees while I am gone.”
Sebek let out a snort. Fafnir just nodded. Satisfied, Alphinaud left. His daemon, taking the form of a regal looking eagle, flew behind him. Fafnir wasn’t jealous of an unsettled daemon, but it was a stark reminder of how young Alphinaud was. His daemon would find herself locked in a certain form soon, settling when Alphinaud’s personality had formed a solid core, but that had not yet passed.
Yugiri stared at Fafnir. Her companions stood behind her with polite disinterest. Sebek cleared their throat. It was a slight hacking noise. Ame-no-Koyane tilted his head.
“Are you alright?” He asked. Sebek shifted back and forth, claws clacking on the stone floor. “What is your name?” Ame-no-Koyane looked at Fafnir, but Sebek was the one who spoke.
“I am Sebek and this is Fafnir,” they replied. There was the slightest tilt of Yugiri’s head. It was the only sign of surprise that she gave. Fafnir didn’t blame her, but they haven't used their Doman name in years and they didn’t intend to start now.
Unless she was surprised that Sebek was replying and not Fafnir. That was possible. Daemons did not speak for their person very frequently outside of emergencies, though they were all capable of speech. But Sebek usually knew what Fafnir wanted to say and they were content to let them lead the way.
“What do you need?” Fafnir asked, unsticking their tongue from the roof of their mouth. Yugiri exhaled. She explained the state of the Domans on the boats. With a task in mind, Fafnir stood and went to get it done. They didn’t look back as they went to speak with Momodi.
They could still feel Yugiri’s eyes on them, all the way back at her table.
—
Momodi was helpful. The Sultana was not, but at this point Fafnir was unsurprised. The important takeaway from the meeting was that the Domans could not stay in Ul’dah. Alphinaud once again was useful and suggested the Domans go to Mor Dhona.
“The town is in need of hard workers. It shall not be comfortable living, but it is freedom,” he told Yugiri. She nodded.
“We are not searching for handouts. We are happy to work for our keep,” she assured him. Fafnir’s head throbbed. How many times had they heard almost that exact sentence from their own parents?
Alphinaud went ahead to talk to Minfilia about the preparations. Fafnir should — should go do something but they’re stuck. They didn't want to just walk away and leave Yugiri and the other refugees there. Talking to them simply made Fafnir's stomach churn unpleasantly. They wished someone else could be the intermediary.
“How long have you lived here?” Yugiri asked, tilting her head up at them.
Sebek blinked at Fafnir.
“A while,” Fafnir replied. Their face was heating up. "Not here , but—"
"Limsa Lominsa," Sebek interrupted. They coughed, a hacking noise that drew a few glances. "It is a coastal city."
Yugiri nodded. She looked at Fafnir but was silent. They swallowed. Were they supposed to say something? There was nothing they wanted to say about Limsa. They could talk about La Noscea’s beautiful beaches or sprawling cliff sides, but Yugiri was a stranger and they didn't talk about Limsa Lominsa with strangers.
Ame-no-Koyane hopped across Yugiri’s shoulders so that he could get closer to Sebek without leaving the safety of his person.
"We are very grateful for your help," he said, looking between Sebek and Fafnir.
"It is not because you are from Doma," Fafnir told Yugiri and Ame-no-Koyane bluntly. "The Scions would help anyone."
Because of her veil, Fafnir could not see Yugiri's expression. She inclined her head over so slightly.
"We understand. We are still fortunate to have you as our advocate. Wherever Mor Dhona is and whatever tasks we are given, we will prove that letting us stay was not a mistake."
"I know." My mother and father feel the same way , Fafnir thought. Their tongue was suddenly made of lead. They reached down to grip Sebek's neck, trying to keep themself steady. "Please let me know how I can help."
Yugiri nodded. "Of course. There are a few tasks in mind…"
—
As per Yugiri’s request, Fafnir went to inform the other Domans of the plan. They had to track down the children and their chest clenched as they thought about what the kids had experienced. But they weren’t scared of Fafnir, seeing them as more familiar than the strange faces peering at them around Vesper Bay.
Yozan said that he wanted to be like Fafnir, his daemon taking the shape of a monitor lizard to mimic Sebek.
"I wish I could be an adventurer," Yozan said, slapping his chest. "I could save everyone and fight back against Garlemald."
"Yeah!" Koharu agreed. Her daemon seemed to prefer birds, flickering between birds of prey. He was currently a large golden eagle that could barely sit on the side of the cart. "The adults said that you beat a bunch of Garleans."
Fafnir nodded. Their eyes flickered to Hozan, who was listening but pretending to look out at the horizon. There were still many hours left in the ride. Of course Fafnir could teleport ahead, but they promised Yugiri that they’d keep the refugees safe.
"We did," Sebek told the children. "A great many of them had built a fortress in these lands. We took it by force and destroyed a machine they made, one that would have ruined every city here."
The children gasped. Sebek was suitably pleased by their reactions and grins. Shiun, who seemed to be the meek one, clung onto his daemon.
"What will you do when they come back?" He asked.
Sebek stuck their snout up higher. "We will beat them again and again until they never come back."
The children looked to Fafnir, who nodded. Yozan punched his palm.
"Then we will hurry up and become great warriors just like you. Though, I don't know if I can use a lance. They seem awfully long…" He paused in contemplation.
"Will there be opportunities for us to learn in the town we are going to?" Rokka, the fourth member of the group, asked. There was a book in her lap with Doman characters that Fafnir couldn’t read. They nodded again. "That is good. I promised my parents that I would not forget my studies."
It struck Fafnir that they hadn’t seen any of the children's parents except for Yozan. They realized there could be only one reason for that.
That could have been you, a voice whispered in their mind. But your parents ran and they felt the guilt for the rest of their lives. How do you think they feel now, with you gone and—
“Why are you an adventurer?” Yozan asked, interrupting Fafnir’s thoughts. They blinked, refocusing on the lad. “It sounds like it is very hard — you never know where you’re going to go next, or who is going to need you, or even what you’re going to fight!” Though he framed it as a concern, his tone made it clear that he found it all fascinating.
Fafnir could hardly tell him the truth, which was that they left home because they could no longer tolerate it. Becoming an adventurer was secondary.
Becoming the Warrior of Godsdamn Light was never the plan. They just hoped they didn’t fuck it up.
“I do it to protect others,” Fafnir said instead. And they weren’t lying, so they didn’t feel bad when the children nodded seriously and looked at them with such big, hopeful eyes. “For those who cannot fight.”
Yozan mouthed the word woah . His daemon shifted into a long lizard with black and gold stripes. She was small enough to curl around Yozan’s neck, cuddling close to his collar. Fafnir could see her whisper something to him, but did not catch the words.
“That is amazing,” Koharu added. She threw her hands in the air and her daemon flapped his wings in agreement. “I want to become an adventurer.”
“So do I,” Yozan quickly agreed. “We should make a group — a guild! Just like how the shinobi have a guild. But we’ll make it for adventurers from Doma. The — The Doman Adventurers’ Guild!”
As he spoke, Fafnir glanced at Hozan. They didn’t know if they were reading his expression correctly, but Hozan seemed relieved. Like Fafnir was doing a good thing.
“Will you join us, ser Fafnir?” Koharu asked, a hopeful shine in her eyes.
Fafnir’s mind was blank. They felt like their brain was processing things at half speed. Their first thought was that the children did not understand what adventuring was. Their second was that they did not belong in a Doman guild.
“Maybe,” Fafnir said, realizing that they were taking too long to respond.
Sebek chuffed. “It is a lot of work to be an adventurer. You will need to train very hard and sometimes for very little in return. We were adventurers for many years before anyone knew our names. But we did not do it for fame or fortune. Anyone who does is a no-good adventurer.” Sebek launched into a speech about the qualities of an adventurer, even throwing in some advice. The children hung onto their every word for the rest of the trip.
Fafnir was happy to be silent, their mind occupied with unpleasant thoughts of their childhood.
—
It was perhaps unkind to call the Sahagin summoning of Leviathan a relief , but it was something Fafnir knew how to handle. They could swing an axe or a lance in battle, cutting through flesh and bone like paper. They could stand alone against the might of the storm, listening to the shift of the wooden platform and feeling the stinging spray of waves against their cheeks. They could be a bastion of strength. They could be the indomitable pillar that everyone else anchored themselves to.
That was easy. Talking to Yugiri and helping the Domans settle into Mor Dhona was not.
When they finally defeated Leviathan, they were soaked to the bone. Their hair was stuck to the back of their neck, their bangs covering their face. Their horns ached and their head was filled with a soft ringing. Fafnir liked the ocean — loved it, even — but they would be perfectly happy if they didn’t see a cresting wave for a few moons.
But they were alive and Sebek was alive and Merlwyb was very, very thankful.
“You are a true hero — not only to Limsa Lominsa, but to all of Eorzea,” she said boldly. She declared that she would send aid to the Doman refugees as payment for their assistance in the matter. “We are fortunate to have you here. If there were space, then we would be happy to host you.”
Yugiri shook her head. “Nay, your gift is more than generous enough. If I may, I would be happy to share the art of the shinobi with any who would want to learn.” She looked down, placing a hand on her chest. “I know that it is much different than what you are used to, but it may be of use…”
Thancred cleared his throat. “If I may, there are some here who have a style not dissimilar. They would be interested in speaking with you, I am certain.” He looked at Merlwyb. “If you do not mind me saying, admiral.”
“If you are to meet with those individuals, you will need a letter of introduction. I will write you one.” She glanced from Yugiri to Fafnir. “Take it to the lower docks. There is a man who will assist Lady Yugiri from there.”
Fafnir blinked. So far, they have kept their visits to Limsa as quick as possible. Even while training to be a marauder, they would be in and out. They didn’t linger around the lower docks and for good reason. Unless their parents moved, they still lived in a small apartment not too far from the lower docks. The fish markets could be smelled every afternoon, rank and rotting. During the summer, the roof leaked. But Fafnir had their own room and there was space for the family shrine and there was always rice porridge ready for a hungry stomach.
The last time they were in that apartment was almost ten years ago on a hot summer night, sneaking out with a small pack and a few onigiri for the road.
Being in Limsa made their every nerve tense. They’re surprised no one else has realized, though Fafnir couldn’t deny that they were relieved by the lack of awareness. The fewer questions asked, the better. Their anxiety was to the point where even Sebek looked sick, their scales going from a speckled gray-brown to a pallid slate gray. Fafnir was looking forward to returning to Mor Dhona.
“Fafnir?” Thancred nudged their arm, raising an eyebrow. “What do you think?”
They had no idea how much of the conversation they had missed, so they just shrugged.
“Very well,” Merlwyb said. Her voice betrayed no judgment. “Once the letter is prepared, you can be off. And again, you have my thanks.”
“Many thanks, many thanks!” Her parrot daemon agreed.
The Scions and Yugiri shuffled out of the office once the pleasantries were complete. Y’shtola and Urianger were going back to Mor Dhona, Thancred was sticking around to do… whatever it was Thancred did, and Fafnir got to accompany Yugiri to the lower decks.
“We will see you anon!” Menvra, Y’shtola’s owl daemon, chirped. Y’shtola gave them a warm smile and a wave. Fafnir returned it with a nod.
Sooner rather than later, they were left with Yugiri and a letter. Though Yugiri’s face was still hidden, Fafnir could feel her eyes on them.
“Follow me,” they murmured. Ame-no-Koyane took to the skies, small enough that he practically disappeared against the clouds. Yugiri fell in place behind Fafnir and Sebek as the trio made for the lower decks. Fafnir did their best to skirt around the edges of the busy walkways. The aetheryte glowed bright, sparkling in the midday sun.
Too many eyes followed them. Fafnir wasn’t certain if it was because they were an Au Ra — they weren’t common even in a diverse city like Limsa Lominsa — or if it was because they were the Warrior of Light. It could be both. Regardless, Fafnir’s jaw hurt from tension by the time they made it down the walkway.
Sebek paused and sniffed the air. Fafnir glanced at them.
“Is aught amiss?” Yugiri asked. Her hands started to drift to her knives.
“Nothing,” Sebek said after a moment. “I thought I smelled something familiar, that's all.”
As the group continued heading south, Yugiri nodded. “I think I smell it as well. There is a hint of spices not unlike those in a Doman market. Are we close to others like us?”
Sebek glanced at Fafnir. They sighed.
“Yes. There is a community of refugees who came here after the invasion.” Fafnir fidgeted with the hem of their tunic. Hawker’s Alley had a section where the Doman refugees set up shops. That was most likely what Yugiri — and Sebek — were smelling.
Fafnir was about to take a turn to bring the group down to the fish docks when they heard a laugh.
It was odd, really. They hadn’t heard their father laugh in almost a decade yet there was no mistaking the sound. He had a deep voice, prone to rumbling and ruminating and roughness . The kind that commanded rather than cared .
Fafnir froze and Sebek collided with them, smacking right into their shin. Sebek hissed.
“Hide,” Fafnir said with no subtlety. They glanced about and saw a door with an Open sign. Without a second thought, they ducked inside. They slammed the door behind them, barely waiting for Yugiri’s tail to clear the doorway.
“Hello?” The shopkeeper was a Miqo’te. She stared at the sudden visitors with wide eyes.
Fafnir blinked as their eyes adjusted to the lack of light. It looked like they had found some kind of smoke shop. There were rows of dried plants in clearly labeled boxes as well as pipes of various lengths and designs. Clean and orderly. It could be a lot worse. They could have barged into a gambling den or pirate-invested bar.
“Pardon us,” Yugiri said, sounding much calmer than Fafnir felt. Ame-no-Koyane flew in through an open window, perching on Yugiri’s shoulder. “We may have entered the wrong store.”
Fafnir fished into their pocket and pulled out a handful of gil. They slammed the coins onto the counter.
“You never saw us,” they said. Their words came out much harsher than they intended and the Miqo’te flinched.
“Of course! No one entered,” she readily agreed. She scooped the coins towards her. Yugiri was staring at Fafnir but they didn’t acknowledge her.
“Who was it?” Sebek asked, looking up at Fafnir.
“Ba,” they replied. They glanced at the window, trying to see if there was anyone familiar in the crowd. Yugiri had a hand on one of her daggers.
“Are we in danger?” Yugiri was soft-spoken, but there was an edge in her tone. Fafnir was hit with the understanding that they were staring down a rampaging chocobo and needed to make a lot of decisions very quickly.
On the one hand, their refusal to talk about anything that happened to them before they were 21. On the other hand, Yugiri was going to think she was in danger. Which…
“You are fine,” Sebek reassured her. “This is a complicated situation.”
Fafnir couldn’t see much out the window. At the very least they couldn't see anyone familiar. The crowd was thinning out and usually Au Ra towered over the other races. But they didn’t want to leave the shop yet. That was a risk they did not want to take.
“You are hiding from… your father?” Yugiri questioned. Sebek nodded reluctantly, shifting back and forward. Their claws were muffled against the rugged carpet on the floor.
Ame-no-Koyane fluttered his wings. “I can search for him,” he offered.
“That would be appreciated,” Sebek replied, not even glancing at Fafnir. They felt a twinge of annoyance but said nothing as Ame-no-Koyane flew back out the window.
Without glancing at her, Fafnir drew more coins out of their pocket and placed them on the shopkeeper's counter. She reached out to take them.
Fafnir faced Yugiri directly. Her arms were relaxed by her sides.
“I grew up here,” Fafnir started. Yugiri tilted her head down. Even with her face covered, Fafnir could sense how unimpressed she was. “My parents and I left Doma during the invasion. I was five.”
“I was small enough to sit on Fafnir’s shoulders,” Sebek added.
Yugiri waited for them to say more. When nothing else came, she said, “You do not get along with your family.”
Fafnir nodded, though they supposed that was not exactly correct. They did not have enough of a relationship with their family to really describe how they would interact with them. Then again, they were hiding in a smoke shop instead of possibly seeing their father. That did not bode well.
Sebek looked at Fafnir. “Can we tell her the rest?”
As Fafnir pretended to consider the question, Yugiri crossed her arms. “Is that why you have been keeping your distance? I considered the possibility that you had committed crimes in Doma, but that seemed unlikely due to your age.”
"It is complicated," Fafnir said, a useless answer.
“There aren’t many like you here,” Sebek agreed, a little bit more helpful.
Yugiri tilted her head in confusion. “You said there are others like us here."
Sebek shook their head back and forth, swinging their whole neck with the motion. “No, not like us. Like you .”
Before Yugiri could ask more questions, Ame-no-Koyane flew back into the shop. “I could not see any other Au Ra,” he reported. Fafnir let out a deep exhale. They felt like they were trying to remember how to breathe. “Shall we continue onward?” Ame-no-Koyane asked, looking between the others.
Yugiri held a hand out. He crossed from the windowsill to her fingers, chirping when he landed. Yugiri did not move even though she was closer to the door. Her gaze was still focused on Fafnir.
They sighed.
“I swear that you are in no danger here due to my past. Is that enough?” Fafnir squinted at her, trying to get a better understanding of how she felt. When Yugiri did not immediately respond, they added, “I have no ill will towards you or the other Domans. I hope that the last few weeks have shown that.”
“They have,” Yugiri replied, voice softening. “You are allowed your secrets. We all are. I will not ask for answers that you are not ready to give.”
A weight was lifted from Fafnir’s shoulders. They felt themself physically relax, a fresh breath of air filling their lungs. They nodded, straightening their posture.
“It is appreciated.” Fafnir ran a hand through their hair before gesturing at the door. “We should depart. No need to linger.”
Yugiri nodded. She led the way, opening the door and stepping out. She let Fafnir step ahead, walking quickly down the streets until they got to the fish docks. There was a man matching Merlwyb's description, a large rat daemon sitting on a stack of crates next to him.
He was a short Hyur. Then again, all Hyur seemed short to Fafnir. But he smiled warmly at Yugiri and his daemon sniffed politely at Ame-no-Koyane. Fafnir didn't doubt that he was dangerous, but they knew Yugiri was able to hold her own. She would be fine with him.
"Thank you for your welcome," Yugiri told the man. She gave him a shallow bow. "I shall accompany you in a moment, but I wish to speak with Fafnir for a moment."
"As ye do," the man said, inclining his head. He walked some ways, enough that Fafnir could pretend that he wasn’t listening. He undoubtedly recognized Fafnir, but if he was in Merlwyb’s employ then he was unlikely to stab them in the back.
Sebek looked up at Yugiri. They gave her a smile, a bit of a silly expression with their maw hanging open. Though they had teeth, they were not visible at the moment and reminded Fafnir vaguely of an old man.
“You are very kind. We are happy to help you and the others,” Sebek told Yugiri. “Please do not tell anyone what we told you.”
“I would never betray the trust of an ally,” Yugiri reassured them. “I wished to apologize again—”
Fafnir shook their head. “No need.” They would rather be done with the pleasantries and teleport away before they had another close encounter. As nice as it was to hear the sound of the waves hitting the docks, they couldn’t relax enough to enjoy it.
Yugiri held up a firm hand. “Please allow me to finish.” When no further interruption came, she continued, “I wished to apologize for whatever makes you feel that we are not the same. If I or any of my fellows have made you uncomfortable, then that is our error.”
“You have done nothing wrong.” Fafnir sighed, looking up at the sky. Seagulls blended with bird daemons — some of the gulls were probably daemons too. “It is difficult. I have very few memories of Doma. You remind me of this unpleasant fact. I do not like being back here. The two situations have made my behavior worse than usual.”
There was a lull in the conversation. Fafnir could see the hyur start tossing a knife around with one hand. He didn’t look at Fafnir and Yugiri, but he was certainly paying attention to them. Yugiri cleared her throat.
“I am not of Doma. I was born in a place far beneath the Ruby Sea called Sui-no-Sato.” Yugiri looked up at Fafnir. “Because I left, I was banished. So I know a little of what it is like to not be able to go home.”
A knot in Fafnir’s chest loosened. They nodded, eyes closing for a moment. If they focused, they could think about parts of Doma. There was a pond near their home. Their father tended the rice fields with their mother’s aid. The sunset against the hills was the most beautiful thing in the world.
It smelled like charcoal when the Garleans came.
“I hope someday you can come to Doma. Perhaps we will go together and free those who remain. But that is neither here nor there.” Yugiri paused. "You are a good man, Fafnir. It is an honor to fight by your side."
As she turned to leave, Fafnir cleared their throat.
"Fa Ning." They reached down to place a hand on Sebek's head. "And this is Sòngzi Niángniáng."
Yugiri gave them both a smile. She bowed to them, her hands flat against her thighs and her back a straight line.
"It is a pleasure to know you both," she said. And Fafnir found that they felt the same.