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The rolling current of aether washes off Silvertear Lake and coats Mor Dhona in a hazy gloom. Despite that, Revenant’s Toll is busy when the three of them arrive at its northern gate. Among the town’s market stalls, a group of uniformed engineers see the trio and hurry towards them. Immediately, they call out:
“Miss Sugiura! What’s going on at the front?”
“Is the boss alright?”
“We’ve been working hard on those ideas you came up with!”
Sidurgu moves to block the group from Tsukiko, but the young woman steps forwards to greet them, a feigned smile on her face. Despite her desire to get to the Rising Stones, she takes the time to greet each one of the engineers individually, showing no sign of the injuries she bears or the emotional fatigue she’s carried through recent days.
Eventually, she turns back to her traveling companions.
“…These are my guests, Sidurgu and Rielle. They will be staying here for a time.”
Rielle steps forward and bows her head, a hand over her heart; Sid shuffles uncomfortably, but his expression betrays no emotion. As if seeing him for the first time, some of the engineers are taken aback, but Tsukiko makes to reassure them.
“They are good, dependable people. Please treat them as you would treat me.”
After a few more exchanges, the trio moves on, but the rest of their journey is replete with similar encounters. Adventurers, travelers, and researchers alike interrupt their progress. Although they view the Warrior of Light with adoration, Sid is filled with the apprehension that comes with being seen.
His eyes dart around, looking for a lurking threat, finding nothing.
…
By the time they finish introductions with the Scions in the Rising Stones, night falls. As Rielle settles into her accommodation, Tsukiko checks on her allies struck by the unknown sleep, and Sid waits outside the infirmary for her. It’s a long time before the machinist leaves the room. When she appears, she wears her exhaustion openly for a moment, eyes glossy from silent tears.
She blinks when she notices Sid and tries to steel her emotions.
“Sid,” she begins, voice stilted. “Did you need anything?”
He frowns in response.
“You can drop the heroic act with me. I know you too well for it.”
She looks down and wipes her eyes.
“Right… I’m sorry, I’m just tired.”
A moment of silence passes between them. Tsukiko begins to collect herself, slowing her breathing and closing her eyes, while Sid searches for something to say. Comforting words don’t come easily, but he forces himself to speak before the moment slips away.
“You know that Rielle is better than me when it comes to these things… But if you need someone to listen to you, I’m here, too.”
Tsukiko pauses.
“Thank you. It’s just… It’s hard to see them like that. It feels like I’ve failed them.”
“You haven’t,” Sid insists. “As long as you’re still breathing, I know you’ll fight for them, come hells or high water. They’re your family.”
Something he’s said catches Tsukiko off guard. She takes a moment to collect her thoughts, then continues.
“I hope you can feel at home here, for the time being.”
Sid crosses his arms and leans back.
“…It’s friendly,” he admits. “Maybe I’m too damned used to Ishgard, but I feel like I’m waiting for something to go wrong. I’m not used to so many people being happy to see someone like us.”
Tsukiko nods, the trace of a smile on her lips.
“Revenant's Toll has only developed in the past year or so. There’s less hierarchy than most places, and the people come from all over… But we also owe a great deal to supplies from Ishgard.”
Sid’s expression suddenly shifts to doubt, but Tsukiko continues, tone insistent.
“…Ishgard is capable of good things. I want to believe in its future.”
Sid feels a knot tighten in his gut. To believe in the future of the ‘Holy See’ is ridiculous, he thinks, knowing what they’ve done and all they took from him… But Tsukiko’s fatigue betrays no weakness in her conviction.
She who takes the weight of the entire world on her back would ask him for his faith.
He closes his eyes and sighs.
“…We’ll see.”
…
Days later, the Rising Stones is abuzz with activity. As Sid enters the crowded main hall, Rielle rushes to his side, an expectant look on her face.
“Where have you been?” she asks. “Tsukiko’s about to leave.”
Sid raises an eyebrow.
“…They found something?”
Rielle leads him through the crowd of Scions to a quiet corner. They find Tsukiko seated at a table, working on her rifle in mid-assembly. She looks up when she notices their approach: The days of rest have done her well, and confidence shines in her eyes where she had lost it before.
“Tataru told us that they found a passage under the tower base,” she begins. “A team is already there, but I might be gone for a while, if there’s anything to it.”
Sid has a moment of quiet contemplation. Rielle looks at him impatiently, urging him to say something before Tsukiko leaves.
“…If this is it, we’ll be here to watch over the Scions. So do what you must.”
Rielle narrows her gaze in response but softens when she looks at Tsukiko and speaks.
“We’ll be waiting here for you to come back. Thank you again, for everything.”
Tsukiko gets up from the table, having finished work on her rifle. She looks at Sid and Rielle, a satisfied expression on her face.
“I know I’m leaving them in dependable hands. So, just wait for me—I’ll be back before you know it.”
She gives a wave and turns to leave, knowing not of the trials that await her.
Sid wonders if he’s said enough.