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inviouswriting · 2 years

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Reunion

Kivera and her universe centered a little. Mentions of polyship with @snow-covered-moon ‘s Shuri and including her character. Between Shuri and Lilith.

Lengthy! Been working on this for a few months now. This is an ongoing series I am writing. Starting at the beginning with Kiya and Aymeric’s stories.

I had to split off before going into Ultima Thule.

Spoilers for Endwalker content, if you have not gone through that expansion, are about to, please read with caution. While I’m vague, there are major key points in here. Also subject matter is heavy because that expansion is dark itself.

Thank you for those who have been following this original side story.

Kivera’s path in Elpis was different than Shuri’s, the angel was there to learn dynamis, while Shuri and Lilith were there to learn of their origins. Like Meteion, Lilith is an entelechy. Kivera did not intervene with the knowledge the two gained, she watched from the spiritual plain she was drifting after her time period caught up.

She had intentionally made her side a day faster than the time duration Shuri was in. So she could get through and wait for her to catch up. Observe her from the shadows of the spirit realm itself. She had no worries over her as she uncovered truths about herself. Kivera was watching for instability.

Kivera sees a web of tethers, always seeing them, how different lives have thinner closer to death, or stronger when they’re full of life. How she knows when a life has truly been fulfilled. She thinks back to the many she rend in Etheryis, just like another world she knows.

For Shuri, the events she witnesses are identical to the ones she went through. Meeting Meteion, meeting Hermes, Emet, Venat, and Hythlodaeus. A time loop that Kivera experienced herself, and now watches it unfold up to the point where Meteion converges with her sisters to tell the fate of the distant stars.

Kivera watched with pain in her own eyes at how the color drained from Meteion. Leaving a bleak and grim face filled with pure despair. An emotion she is familiar with, and faces on the normal with her nature of being.

The chase after Meteion as she fled to the end of space and time itself. Shuri being sent through the confluence she herself went through in haste to not have her memories wiped out.

Kivera waits for Shuri to be returned to the gate they arrived in, where they both will be returned to the same time point. After Venat separates from Shuri and the auri is through the gate to head back to the one they entered together does Shuri finally see Kivera. As if breathing air their points are together.

“You’ve your answers I take?” The same whirlwind of emotions Kivera had are reflected within Shuri and Lilith. Mismatched eyes meet green, Kivera offers her hand to her again to take her back.

“I do. Let’s head back home.” Kivera’s eyes flit between purple then back to green when her hand is taken.

There is nothing else they need to say as they step through and drift back to their current time points. Letting memories they both know flood them. Seeing what led Venat to become Hydaelyn, the staggering walks and parallels of going towards Emet that day in the First. For Shuri, driven by Ardbert, for Kivera her own will. She recalls her position that day to stand to the side and let the events play out.

Shuri sees directly from Kivera’s eyes as she offers her hand to Hecate and leeches her life while giving her own essence to the woman who just wanted to find love. How she saw a world plagued by beasts and diseased with warring deities. Where she cleansed it to become the Etheryis they know now.

Kivera can feel the anger within Lilith digging into her hand at rewatching the death of Lucifer and herself. Almost clawing into the hand that holds her steady. Kivera having a hand in everyone’s death that day. It was a world that ended and split one star into fourteen. Each having their own life and each having their own fate.

The arrival back in the ocular was spent in mild silence. Kivera knows they have to separate again, for a while. Kivera to Garlemald, and Shuri to Thavnair to lend her hand there. It is brief for them to spend any time together. Kivera has more power to lend in Garlemald while Shuri is best aiding with Divinity. Where the rest of their family would be.

Kivera gives Shuri one of her bells, and a full embrace. The reaper uses her second sight to look at her tethers to the world. Vibrant and full but frayed at the edges. One wrong move was all it takes.

“Only ring that if it is dire. I’ll hear it anywhere, each of my circle has one. It summons me. We’ll meet up again in Sharlayan.” Kivera gives her enough to know they’ll see each other again. Outside they split their paths, Kivera instantly going to where she is needed, hearing a faint ping from Aiden’s bell.

He rarely rings it, and it would be a little bit before she meets up. The escort mission in Garlemald becoming a bad choice in the end. The reaper didn’t need to see the tethers to know how many severed, and how many were lost. She followed the path and where she can feel Aiden and Killian lending their hand to fight off those that turned.

The pace she uses is slower and reverent, making peace with her choice to help them. Steeled from her visit to Elpis, if she had resolved herself to let the star go, she would never had helped earlier.

Green eyes watch the clash of swords and spears against hands and mouths. At her feet she lets small pulses of fire, enough to ruffle the snow under her feet and race towards beasts but not scorch the ground underneath. The beasts too far gone to be saved, they’re only touched by the flame before they dissipate as if they were never there.

Killian is first to see her, and nudges Aiden. They exchange looks and begin to stand back from the circle they entered. The rest of the group sees her, and breathe sighs of relief at her showing up.

“About time.” Kivera stops by Killian and Aiden.

“I thought you could manage without me.” She teases Aiden a little.

“This end of the world stuff is all yours. Not mine. I rather you know, not be in worlds about to burn. Find your answers?” Kivera nods and amused amber eyes light up.

“More questions, but I have some of my answers. How many are left?” Kivera looks on to see a group, where she feels at least one of hers, Estinien nearby tending to other beasts.

“Just this group and the ones the other scions have right now. I think they need you more than us here. You took care of the worse one.” Aiden joins Killian again, ending the small reunion between her and her spirits. Kivera closes her eyes, letting a wave of emotions run through her. She keeps herself composed noting that no one she cares for is in dire danger or injured.

“I guess it is time then. Bring end to the restless.” She sees the beasts close to lich monsters. Ones devoid of any will of their own, just merely acting. There were no longer souls to collect in the field save for the few who were just devoured. Her hands work as she walks closer to her group, the one that needs her. Burning off threads in front of her with a sweep of her hand. It looks like she walks through spider webs.

Kivera weaves these threads in her hands looking for ones fading and rotting. She runs the end of Antares along them, severing them as she determines which were saved, which are beyond saving, and those who wither away like dust when she touches them.

A scene that awaits her is one she was anticipating. G’raha and Alisaie in a circle, the latter with a wound to her side. Estinien sees her first, he’s met with a quick flash of purple before they settle to green. Vibrant in life like herself.

“Hmm... funny how that doesn’t look like you have things handled, Alisaie.” Kivera chides, playful earning a quick glare from her.

“I can look after myself you know!” Kivera’s eyes light up gold in her amusement.

“So.. you don’t need my help then.” She fixes Antares in her hand, from the two hand-scythes she had been using to her weapons full form in the looming polearm it is.

“We could use your help against the big one. You know she’s a bit prideful.” Alphinaud is quick to comment before his sister can shoo away their godsend help.

“Ha, you know I deal with prideful ones on the norm in my domain. Maybe it is a bit of divine retribution? Some humbling? You do remember I oversee Purgatory.” The reaper sees the fear in both siblings faces at that reveal.

“Come now, don’t tease them too badly. You’re going to scare them.” Estinien joins them after rending the last of the bunch he was on.

“You know me by now. If I wasn’t going to help, I wouldn’t be here. Perhaps... this is a chance to show them what I can actually do.” She glances to the twins and gives them both a slight wink, then faces herself to the last beast on the field after sensing the others were gone.

“Why not show them then. You dance circles around every other enemy. Quite literally.” Estinien holds a hand in front of the rest to keep them from wandering into the fray now. The reaper whistles loud enough for something.

“Doesn’t she need help?” G’raha looks up at the dragoon for stopping him from aiding Kivera as she finds a center to draw the attention of lingering beasts to her.

“Since when does Death need help? Recall back in Thavnair, with Aiden?” He almost forgot she has hidden abilities that she has not shown this world.

“How could I forget being at epicenter.” Alphinaud and Alisaie resort to helping aid survivors in healing them.

Kivera waits for them to get closer, she sweeps one of her feet in a circle to close off the spot once she has them away from the others and where she can control their escape and keep the others from getting struck by her.

“To think that your very emotions caused these changes. That your very existence is nothing more than lingering essence. You remind me of the beings lost to necromancy. Warped beyond recognition, only driven by reasons you’ll never understand anymore. To fill that empty void. That you neither will return to the aetherical sea nor spirit realm. Exactly like a lich’s flame. Whither away body, mind and soul.” Kivera watches them get closer, she holds her scythe outwards curved blade pointed inwards ready to strike in a sweep she stands in a way ready to turn on her foot.

“Fiamme del cielo.” Barely a whisper as she speaks those around her feel her speak to them. White fire dances on her blade blooming on it as she swings to spin it out. She lets the blade work with the few she connects with, rending them and dissipating them in one sweep. She uses the flames to round behind her to the rest, splashing them as if it were water off the blade.

In the small dome she had created there was nothing after she stands her scythe upright, looking more like a reaper than ever. Green eyes flit to blue brief feeling the deep-seated sorrow of those that fall around her. She had made a promise not to reverse time, not for anything like this. She instead looks to collect their names so that she can imprint them somewhere if their family remained alive.

Sensing the danger is over, she returns her attention towards her group. She sees her lingering spirits running towards them. She gives a quick glare at Aiden who shrinks back behind Killian.

“That makes... how many here.. Four? Five? I saw Parn back in Thavnair.” Kivera approaches after manipulating her scythe back down to the hand scythes she uses as a dancer.

“Well... six... Selene is here too.” Kivera folds her arms and sighs.

“Why? Are we popping up left and right? You know this isn’t good when we’re all here.” Kivera can feel the pom on the end of her tail bristling out.

“With all due respect queen. Our being here means it is an end. We can do what we can to limit impaction, but you know better than any of us.” Killian leans on Aiden, he glances over to Estinien and they toss knowing looks.

“I’m not a queen. Mind yourselves. Don’t use titles when I’m not in “that” form.” Kivera sees the scion’s tending to others keeping themselves from the unusual group until she introduces them.

“I suppose it really is, if things pan out the way they’re going. Then I trust you are resolved to act if you know.” Kivera looks between Aiden and Killian, they both nod knowing what she means. To guide souls if the star does fade, to lessen the impact for the star itself.

“What of you, have you decided what is going to happen. You don’t willingly lend that scythe to spare lives unless you intend to spare them.” Aiden pokes at her aiding others.

“I hate senseless deaths. Specifically when the entire soul itself dies and there is nothing to reap. It’s like those touched by Vanth. Unable to be saved because simply there is nothing to save. No wisps of their former selves, no gleam, just... nothing. Aether, mind, body. All warped beyond from despair and dynamis. I’ll explain that in depth with the rest. That is the answer I and another sought to find.” Kivera lifts her eyes to look pass her spirits to the scions around them. Wanting answers to who and what her unique group are.

“Shall we head back to Sharlayan where I can deliver the news more in depth? Killian, can you find Parn for me? Aiden, Beatrice.” She sees his eyes light up instantly at her name and goes to collect her immediately. He doesn’t question her bringing more of their circle to the realm if she is calling for Beatice.

Like Kivera, she is a fate decider, between Kivera, Divinity and Beatrice they can determine paths for a realm.

“Who?” G’raha sees Kivera’s charges quickly run off to collect the people she mentioned. The reaper looks over to him, bringing a finger to her lips.

“I’ll tell you later. For now, go see about the stray survivors and bring them somewhere safe. Unless we want more beasts from the unstable ones.” G’raha leaves with Alphinaud to soothe those around them. Kivera scratches through her hair feeling frustrated with the current situation. Estinien approaches her getting met with orange eyes.

“Oh, it’s you this time.” She relaxes enough for her eyes to tinge back to green.

“You know I won’t pry unless you willingly tell or it is of great importance. Prefer to keep it that way. You saw her, how was she.” He had been busy fighting to where he couldn’t see Shuri.

“It’s best you learn from her. In fact she could probably use your comfort more than mine. Lilith is still looking at me a bit scorned still. Shuri understands. It was a time before I knew any of you, and your times before the sundering.” She refers to Amaurot.

“You’ll have to earn her trust like we all have had to earn yours.” Estinien reminds her of how distant she was at first interacting with any of them. Divinity bringing them in, and she acted much like Lilith towards her.

“I’m not one for this side of courting you know. I believe there will be a time “after” the fate of this star is determined.” Estinien sees amusement in Kivera’s eyes.

“Right, I’ll go find Shuri then.” Kivera shakes her head.

“No.” Her word is firm.

“You can’t tell me either.”

“Correct. Paths are different. She and I will cross paths again. She won’t like how either.” Estinien stares at her for a few minutes, like she is entirely different than the one they’ve grown to love.

“Be careful. We part ways here then?” Kivera looks at him and lets her eyes flit to a brief blue.

“For now yes. This is part of my role. I can’t interfere with certain choices she makes. We will see each other again.” Kivera is cryptic but Estinien does not question her further, he knows he won’t get a straight answer out of the reaper. Not if her tongue is bound by the stars.

They split their paths, Kivera overseeing the remainder of the survivors to safe spaces where they can rest their minds. She even uses some of the trauma on some to make them “forget” what they witnessed fearing their unstability.

When Kivera is back in Sharlayan, she sees Aiden had kept his word to find Beatrice, and Killian had collected Parn. She approaches them counting out the number around them.

“With Selene in La Noscea, and Silvara in Thanalan... it’s seven. Really are coming to the end of a world aren’t we?” Kivera folds her arms thinking over her circle.

“Normally we’d be concerned seeing you at the end, but you’ve been here from the start.” Killian notes Kivera had been in and out of this place more than any other world.

“Lot’s of tragedy to this star in different eras. Naturally.. I’m needed. What of you and Killian? You two usually travel together and create chaos.” Kivera reads the two as they stand next to each other. Killian looking away from her eyes, and Aiden rubbing the back of his head.

“Just following where all of us seem to be. Divinity did choose this world to have her vision back in... we wanted to see what was so special she had to see it with her eyes.” Kivera closes her eyes at the memory, remembering when she was approached by the Libra spirit for her vision back after years of darkness.

“She chose well, and with good reason. Was all light hearted until they ended up in that parallel world. Where alot of them met me for the first time. Now here we are.. trying to advert it.” Beatrice regards Kivera, she looks almost like a valkyrie that fits in Ishgard’s lore. Braided hair and tall like an elezen. Serving under Demeter.

“So that’s why it feels like this world is in constant flux. You’re attempting to divert it. Is there a reason? You don’t get involved unless it’s for genuinely a cosmic rewriting.” Beatrice questions her, arms folded as she stands parallel to Kivera.

“I hate senseless deaths, and the way they’re dying is like Vanth’s doing.” Kivera meets her eyes, they always butted heads like her and Aiden.

“All of it. We know you by now. Is it for love? or your own justified reason? I won’t help unless I know.” Kivera keeps her stare, eyes shifting brief to orange in her annoyance.

“More out of love for the ones I’ve grown to love here. Along with the truth of the senseless deaths. The soul at the ends of time and space means to end it here as a “gift” rather than letting this star die out the way it is intended to naturally. So not my own justified reasoning, it goes against the very path. So this IS our job.” Kivera reminds her quickly that this is one of their roles. Beatrice places a hand on her waist at her being combatted nicely.

“You and that sharp tongue. You’d drag me in by my braid if I tried walking away.” Parn sighs in relief, the lalafellen spirit panicked momentarily seeing the two bickering.

“Anymore questions about my involvement? Or can we get that meeting going. They want answers, and we have them.” Kivera kneels down to Parn and holds out a finger to him, and he takes it with one of his own.

“Good to see you again. Wish it was on better terms.” She greets him and they share a moment to understand the circumstances.

“Honestly it feels good to do this again.” Green eyes light yellow as they walk together to the Andron. To where the others wait for answers.

Kivera is first to step through the meeting hall’s threshold, a different air to her as she’s followed by the rest of her circle.

“Large crowd in here today.” Alphinaud has Parn stand near him, Aiden fits near G’raha giving him a wave, Beatrice to Y’shtola, Divinity near Estinien and Alisaie, and Kivera to the center.

“First... let me start this with three conditions. Matters of the underworld are off limits, you cannot ask me about souls that have died, souls that reside and where they are. About the very fate of what is going on.. I can’t tell you. and matters of raising the dead. Everything else can be discussed except those. But given we’re facing an end of the world, I can talk about certain things related to Dynamis since it was on me to find it.” Kivera does go into the answers they sought for the trigger response, about Meteion, and what waits at journey’s end.

“You said something about needing your spirits for something.” Kivera looks over to G’raha, he and Aiden jump back from her glare.

“It’s complicated, but we have a way to determine if this is truly “it” for a realm. The more of us showing up, the more it aims that way. I heard Beatrice was here, and Selene. To your world it might not mean a whole lot, but from where we’re from...” Kivera answers him; annoyance in her voice as she speaks about it.

“It means fate is decided.” Beatrice finishes for her, Kivera extends a hand out to let her have her chance.

“So all that you were saying about possibly saving this world. Still hangs out there.” Thancred is the one talking understanding the underlaying words.

“For lack of better words... yes.” She regards him seeing the frustration at going in circles after the explanation of Meteion and her sisters. Kivera linked her memories to them, finding it easier to show them than tell them. Urianger still reeling from the information he was given.

“Then what do you and your circle intend to do.” Those that know Kivera look at her more than the Scion’s it was like they were around equal halves but still undecided around the reaper.

“Two paths. One answer. The paths are chase after Meteion and try to stop the literal end of your star. Or the other method.” Kivera folds her arms.

“Do nothing and let everything play out as it is intended.” Alphinaud catches her bluntness and almost laughs.

“One answer indeed. You know what we’re deciding too.” The reaper flashes a bright gold stare to him.

“And here I thought it was going to be the other option.” Divinity steps back near Estinien, using her second sight with the group.

“She’s not normally one for jokes, yet here she is. What do you wager?” Divinity knows the time allotted to them is running out, and soon even Sharlayan’s skies will bleed fire.

“I am guessing she has some tricks in those wings of hers.” Estinien regards the Libra spirit amused.

“It does, but not without some pain first. If the world was without a chance, she wouldn’t do this. She reminds me of a side I haven’t seen in ages. So confident that I almost believe her. Yet even she is still powerless to fate at the end.” Divinity sees her leader when the others are busy going over their options. The anxiety written on her face, and wondering if she is making a right choice.

“There she is. Good to see her still with her resolve and not mindlessly running in.” G’raha overhears this and looks to the reaper too, seeing that hint of sadness to her eyes, the edges of her eyes tinged with white.

“Even she’s scared.” Divinity looks to him, and offers a brief smile.

“Did you forget? She has people to lose here just as much as you do.” G’raha nods remembering that even Kivera has loved ones.

“More of a reason we’re glad she’s on our side.” Aiden winds an arm on G’raha’s shoulder to drag him between himself and Killian to talk to.

They were waiting for word to go to Journey’s end from the Ark. Kivera takes time away from them to go over her own paths, and wait for the peace to be over with. Where they would descend into the Mothercrystal and further to the next plain.

“These are days I wish I could have your veil lifted Damien. Another time, and maybe another world will see it happen.”