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His visit to Baelsar’s Wall was merely something to pass the time as his current body decayed with age. It was an idea suggested to him by his advisors — a mock vacation of sorts. He knew it was just a feeble political ploy to get him away from the throne, but he played along out of boredom. Emet-Selch, who puppeteered the body of Emperor Solus, looked around as the troops stationed there lined up for inspection, lips pursed in how unimpressive the display was.
He wandered close to the edge of the wall, looking out into the savage lands of Eorzea. Though, its ‘savageness’ was merely Garlean propaganda he invented to further his private plans. In truth, he didn’t consider any of the beings of this or any other Shard truly alive; they were all horrible, malformed creatures — shadows of his people who crawled pathetically through their life to their miserable deaths.
The man tuned out the drill commands shouted by the commanders behind him, instead idly watching the thick woods before him. A flash of movement in the brush caught his attention, his gaze now focusing on the disturbance. A small white creature had popped out of the brush, floating aimlessly into the open area between the tree line and the wall. He rolled his eyes, beginning to turn his attention away and back to the troops trying desperately to impress him — until a small voice caught his attention.
“Lakupo! Wait!”
From the same stretch brush the creature had previously emerged from, a small child did as well. In appearance the child was filthy, long black hair tangled and matted with debris, dirt smeared on their grey skin. A tail and pair of horns indicated that the child was an Au Ra.
But, none of that gave him pause until he focused with his failing eyes, finally glimpsing the child’s soul. The color of it struck him, chest tight as he struggled to breathe. “Phobos.” He wheezed, knuckles white as he gripped his cane. “You.. you’re here?”
“Mide! You have to see the berries here!” The creature cooed, floating in circles around the child. The little one giggled, spinning to match the motions of her companion.
In this, he was now able to get a proper look at her face. Once more he felt as if he had been struck square in the chest. One of the child’s eyes were as silver as the moon, the other red as life blood. They matched exactly with those of his departed…. friend, lover.
He was suddenly overcome with the last memory he had of those eyes — boring into him with betrayal and agony. Her eyes staring desperately into his own as she demanded to know what he had done, begging him to tell her where their lover was.
He will never forget her expression when he told her how Hythlodaeus gave himself for the Star while she was away, after being stripped of her title. He will never forget how the usually composed woman crumpled before him, falling to the ground with a choked, agonizing sob — her form losing shape and shifting into the nightmarish amalgamation that was her true self.
All those eyes staring at him accusingly, all those mouths screeching as she cursed him. The inky blackness of her body wrapping around him in an attempt to choke out his very essence— erase him. His death at the hands of one who shared a quarter of his soul was postponed however, as that was the moment Venat — Hydaelyn — sundered their people.
What a sick mercy it was.
He was brought out of his memories by the feeling of eyes on him. A very familiar gaze, in fact. Looking back down, he noticed the child was now looking up at him, her head tilted in curiosity. When she noticed his attention had shifted to her, she backed away towards the treeline, baring her teeth at him like a wild animal.
He paused, considering the little thing that so bravely bared her teeth, and made his decision. After assessing no eyes were on him, he stepped through the shadowy doorway and appeared on the ground before the child and the creature — inciting a startled sound from them both.
“Well, well,” Emet-Selch began, smiling down at her in the guise of a kindly old man, “What are you doing out here all alone?”
The child puffed up and actually growled at him, “Live here!” She declared, her vocabulary seemingly limited. Judging by her presumed age, it should be much more developed.
“Ah, I see,” He drawled, kneeling down and cursing his aching joints, “Might I inquire as to the whereabouts of your parents then?”
The Au Ra regarded him warily, backing up to keep a safe distance as her companion hovered next to her. To answer his question, she wordlessly pointed to the creature.
A moogle, his mind helpfully supplied.
The man fought the urge to roll his eyes at the absurdity of it all. “What is your name, child?” He finally asked, fishing out a hard candy from his pocket and offering it to the girl.
She stared at the sweet for a long moment, before reaching out to grab it with dirty little hands.
Emet-Selch pulled it from her reach before she could take it, “Ah, ah, ah.” He chided, “Tell me your name, then you may have this.”
The child growled and pulled at her clothing. “Mide U’ra.” She finally said, reaching once more for the candy.
The man smirked, relenting and letting her snatch it away, watching as she shoved it into her mouth with little ceremony.
An urge filled him suddenly — the idea to take this child away and raise her under his Empire. Even with the soul of the last Azem, she was still as malformed as the rest. She would merely be a puppet like all the others.
He would indoctrinate her into his cause, bypassing his previous attempts to convince Phobos with facts and reason. It would be perfect; she would learn of their past and serve Zodiark, knowing her duty to this world. She would know her “life” was forfeit to bring back Phobos. And she would accept it without question.
He would then collect the shattered remnants of Phobos’ soul and put her back together piece by piece. And after she returned, they would finish the mission to reassemble Zodiark and bring back Hythlodaeus — the three lovers reunited at long last. It would be glorious, he would have everything back he lost! He would—
A small squeak shook him out of his thoughts, finding that his hand was gripping the girl’s shoulder a little too hard. She panicked and turned her head, sinking sharp teeth into his flesh. He clenched his jaw and yanked his hand away, finding she had broken skin.
She bared her teeth at him once again, some of his blood smeared across them, her tiny tail lashing behind her in anger. He glanced down at his hand, finding the bite nothing serious and using his power to heal the injury. The girl’s companion was nowhere to be seen now, leaving the two of them alone.
“Ah, I apologize for frightening you,” He began smoothly, “But you must be hungry, and it seems you’ve not had a hot meal in sometime.”
At the mention of food her belly rumbled, loudly in fact. Ah, so food seemed to be the trick with this feral child. She looked at him and then back towards the thick woods, hands balled in her ratty tunic as she debated with herself.
Emet-Selch stood and offered his hand to the child, “Come now,” he cooed, “Let us feed you, and perhaps also provide a nice hot bath.”
Mide hesitated once more before reaching up, taking two of his fingers in her tiny hand, looking up at him warily as she was led to the gates of the wall.
The imperial guards were shocked, to put it lightly, as their emperor strolled up to them with a dirty child clutching his hand. “Y-your Radiance?” One of them stammered, “When did you— how did you?” He would have had to pass by them previously if he had left, how on the Star did he get beyond the wall?
Emet-Selch smiled as he took up the persona of Solus. “Ah, I was just enjoying a walk.” he stated, tapping his cane against the ground. “But I happened upon this child. Have a meal prepared for her, and a bath as well.”
One of the guards jumped into action before the other, rushing to do as the man ordered. Emet-Selch ignored the other who continued to gape in shock, leading Mide past them into the compound.
The girl was instantly on guard as she found herself surrounded by many strangers and walls of metal. The smell of ceruleum fumes made her nose wrinkle, her hand tightening around his fingers in an impressive grip. He paid no mind, leading her to his private chambers, mentioning in passing to one of the commanders to have the child’s meal sent there.
Upon entering, one of the maids who accompanied him on his trip took the child into his bathing chambers without a word. It appeared word had traveled fast. He sat patiently in a large, soft chair, listening to the occasional splashes and sounds of exasperation from the maid.
The child appeared before him clean and dressed not long after, her skin now showing a bluish tint that was hidden under layers of grime. Her long, black hair was brushed and detangled, pulled back in a tie to keep it out of her face. The girl was led to sit down at a small table as her meal was brought in, the smell of it making her belly rumble again.
Emet-Selch dismissed his staff, looking at the girl from his chair, watching her devour everything on her plate with a singular focus. He grimaced as she quite literally licked the plate clean, seemingly determined to consume every trace of the meal. She slumped back in her chair once finished, content and full as her finger found her nose and began digging around inside.
He sighed heavily; manners would need to be taught quickly if she were to survive imperial society. Though the ferocity she seemed to have inherited from Phobos might be enough to scare nobles into leaving her be.
And on second thought, she would make a good playmate for his great-grandson — someone who could keep up with his… roughness.
“Going now.” Mide suddenly said, hopping down from the chair and padding to the door in her bare feet.
“No, my dear, you’re not going anywhere.” He stated, “You are coming to live with me now.”
The child turned and scowled at him, “No.”
He gazed back at her levelly, “Yes.”
She reached up for the door handle, which he knew to be locked, and tried to open it. When it did not budge, she growled and wiggled it.
Emet-Selch stood and approached her, watching as it set off panic in her eyes. “I hope you see it is useless, as the door will not open.”
Mide hissed at him and gripped the handle in both hands, ripping it clean from the door in an impressive display of strength — something that momentarily shocked the man. Her next course of action was the ram into the door, the metal groaning as her strength forced the lock out of place.
“Enough of that!” Emet-Selch snapped, reaching for her, “This is for your own good!”
Damn Phobos and her stubbornness!
His fingers only brushed her clothing as she finally managed to knock the door off its hinges and took off in a dead sprint down the hall. His body was too old and frail to give proper chase, so he called out for the soldiers to capture her.
It was almost comedic as he watched every guard who attempted to grab her either be pushed away or trip in their attempts as the girl made it outside. Emet-Selch hurried as best as he could, unable to use his portals in the presence of others.
No, his secret was too important.
The heavy gate was closed when she reached it, the child letting out a scream of frustration. This allowed Emet-Selch to catch up with her, glowering down at the girl who was stamping her foot.
“Phobos, this is rather unbecoming,” He stated, voice flat and unimpressed, “I realize you are a child now, but surely you know what I’m right.”
The girl paused in her tantrum and looked up at the old man, brow furrowed in a frown. “Phobos?” She repeated, backing up against the gate like a cornered animal.
Emet-Selch grinned cruelly down at her, “Come now, child, no more games.” He said as he approached, walking steadily with his cane.
Wild eyes filled with both panic and fury were tracking his every movement, the girl trying to flatten herself against the door to get further away as he came ever closer.
He reached out and grabbed her arm tightly, “I know what’s best now, you’ll listen to me this time.” He hissed, leaning down to look her in the eyes.
She lurched in his grasp and sunken her teeth deeply into the hand that held her — a much deeper bite that she had given him previously. On instinct he released her and tried to pull away, gritting his teeth as he felt his flesh tear under the force of her grip.
The gates suddenly opened as a patrol began to enter, creating enough space for the child to slip through, which prompted her to release him and bolt away. He cursed as she shot through the opening and took off towards the treeline, disappearing from sight in the dense brush.
When night fell, he used a portal to teleport into the forest, trying to pick up on the familiar aether. But, he had no such luck, and this body was in no shape to go traipsing about a wood so wild and thick.
He had lost her… again.
All the plans he concocted earlier suddenly came crashing down before they could even begin — as he knew it would be only luck to find her again. Still, he supposed he could visit the other sundered worlds, one shard was just as good as the others and eventually he could hunt this one down too. Emet-Selch shrugged with a heavy sigh and waved his hand to reopen the portal, stepping through and back into his private chambers.
—-
In the forest, Mide had tucked herself in a hollow tree, bawling into her tiny fists. Her chest felt hot, like she couldn’t breathe. That man was scary! He tried to steal her! She wished Lakupo and Lupori would come and find her.
She only lifted her when the familiar cooing of moogles and footsteps began to get louder, the sound of her name being called following. She sniffled and rubbed her nose, “H-Here!” she hiccuped, drawing the attention of her searchers.
A moment passed before E-Sumi-Yan appeared before her hiding place, looking down at her with worried eyes. “Mide, are you alright?” He asked gently, kneeling to be closer to her.
The girl sniffled and shook her head before throwing herself at the Padjal, burying her face in his robes and clinging to him. “Scared, so scared!” She managed through hiccups and sobs as the conjurer wrapped her up in his arms.
“Lakupo told us what happened, that you were taken by… strangers.” E-Sumi-Yan soothed, petting her hair, “But it’s okay now, you are safe. And we would’ve come for you if you were truly taken.”
Mide sniffled and looked up at him, “Promise?” She asked, her little voice hoarse.
E-Sumi-Yan smiled back down at her, “Of course.” He murmured, still petting her head as he stood. “Now let us take you to Gridania — to the guild — and make sure you’re unharmed.” The girl nodded and wiped her snot on the padjal’s robe — much to the conjurer’s dismay — clinging to him tighter.
Mide fell into a deep slumber on their way back to the city, her guardians tucking her into a soft, warm bed without her even stirring. She dreamt that night of three people she didn't know but were familiar with at the same time. Their connection to one another was so deep it made an ache settle in her chest. She dreamt of their love and tragic end; how they were to be parted forever afterward.
When she woke her cheeks were wet, but she couldn’t understand why at first. She remembered almost nothing of her dreams, but the heavy ache that settled in her chest remained. But, she knew for certain, in her childlike way, that something terrible happened once and it made three people very sad.