The First Name
The pair walked down a cobbled street, Pimlin’s arms waving to his sides in over exaggeration as he bobbed his head side to side, humming a somewhat familiar tune to himself that caught the Miqo’te’s attention.
She looked away from a torn, warm colored sky of red and orange and looked down to Pimlin who was as happy as could be, without a care in the world. The tune he was humming beckoned at the back of her mind, attempting to call forth an unknown memory, but the sense was fleeting and disappeared as soon as it had come, replaced by a question.
“Pimlin,†she said. He simply looked up to her with his eyes, his head continuing to weave side to side as he carried his tune. “What did you mean when you said I gave you your name?â€Â
“You were there for my birth and suggested the name to my mother. She liked it and so thus I was named.†He replied, music in his words, he didn’t miss a beat.
She grew excited. “Well why don’t we ask your mother then? If I named you, then she’ll know me and—“
“Won’t do no good, lass.†He interrupted, still as happy as could be.
Her brows narrowed with frustration. She was beginning to grow annoyed and wondered if she had a grudge against Lalafell. At this point she wouldn’t put it past herself. “And why not?†She asked grimly.
Pimlin stopped humming, his arms slowed to a normal pace and his head straitened. “Because she wouldn’t remember you.†He said sternly. “Like you, she’s lost her mind you see.â€Â
“Oh,†she exclaimed, slightly embarrassed. “I’m sorry.â€Â
He sighed. “My memory isn’t the best either, must run in the family.â€Â
They continued the rest of the way in silence, she returned to her examination of her surrounding, absently humming the tune Pimlin was a moment before. She was in a place that she recognized but again couldn’t put a finger on a name. However as familiar as it all seemed, something looked cluttered about the place. Some buildings were made from an orange sandstone, other’s from a polished brick, all built around tree’s and wooden huts and houses. She looked at one wooden structure that rested on stilts and was built in a circular pattern with stairs leading up to a walkway that stretched around the entire structure.
“C’mon, this way!†Pimlin shouted out to her, his cheery voice returned.
She broke from her fugue and spotted the short, pudgy man down an alleyway. “Right, coming.†She shouted back and jogged to where he was.
He waited until she was close then led her further down the alley that seemed to grow more narrow as they went, finally turning a corner. They came to an open space between two buildings and blocked off by a third. A single tree grew from the center that towered over the buildings, yet there was little shade from the wide canopy above.
Her eyes instantly went to the top of the tree, having to tilt her head back to see it entirely, slowly moving down its trunk and ending on a small makeshift tent stemming off of an out of place branch near the base of the tree. Pimlin beckoned her again and she followed him into the quarry and up to the tent.
He stopped just at the entrance, turned about quickly on his heel and placed a hand up in front of the Miqo’te. “Halt!†He said.
She stopped abruptly and looked down at him. “What? Why?†She asked.
“Dreyfus doesn’t like surprise visits, ‘specially from strangers. I’ll have to talk to him first.â€Â
She huffed and crossed her arms. “Fine, just make it quick.†Pimlin smiled and disappeared into the tent.
She could hear shuffling noises inside the tent, some things sounding as if they were knocked over, but she couldn’t hear any voices. Curious, she moved closer to the flap and put her ear out to try and catch a voice. Nothing. Distraught, she moved even closer and put her ear inches away from the fabric and listened. A head belonging to an old man popped out of the flap and stared at the Miqo’te. He was so close that when she turned, their noses brushed together.
A look of mock surprise fell over her face and a silent “Oh†came from her mouth and she stumbled backwards, falling hard on her rear, the pain causing the hair on her tail to stand on end. She rubbed her back and looked up furiously to the old man, who she noticed was an Elezen, a great white beard framed his thin wrinkled face and his ears drooped down to the sides. “You should really announce rather than sneaking up on people, old man!†She yelled. “Almost gave me a heart attack!â€Â
The old Elezen’s head cocked to the side slightly, his eyes wide. “Wouldn’t want that, would we?†He said with a slightly unstable tinge in his voice, his head disappearing back into the tent.
She gritted her teeth and stood slowly. The ground was much harder than she thought to have hurt that much. Or perhaps her body was just sore from… something. Either way she removed the thought from her mind and dusted herself off, smoothing out the hair on her tail and picking out a small twig that got tangled in. After a few more minutes of waiting, Pimlin finally emerged from the tent followed by Dreyfus. He was much taller than she would have guessed but then again she couldn’t remember any Elezen she had ever met so she had nothing to judge by. He wore a simple grey robe with a rope sash about his waist and simple leather sandals.
Dreyfus studied the Miqo’te, twirling the tip of his beard around his left index finger. He walked around her several times, looking her up and down. She stood still, only following him with her eyes, feeling slightly uncomfortable. She wore simple leather trousers and boots with a simple woolen shirt with sleeves that stretched to her elbows. Nothing revealing, yet it felt as if Dreyfus’ gaze burned right through to her core and he could see every facet about her, every nook and cranny of her body.
“Well, she seems well enough.†His voiced crackled slightly, still carrying with it a slightly insane tone. “Save for this bump on the noggin,†he said and gave it a flick.
“Ow!†She shouted and took a step back, placing her hand over the wound. “The hell is the matter with you?â€Â
“Can you help her, Dreyfus?†Pimlin asked eagerly, his eyes wide.
Drefus nodded. “Yes I can.†He turned to the side and waved his arm over to a small table next to the tree that the Miqo’te hadn’t seen before. “Please,†he said invitingly.
“Oh goody!†Pimlin exclaimed and ran over to the table, jumping up onto the bench seat, plopping down, his chin just able to rest on the tabletop.
Dreyfus continued to stare at her with his piercing gaze and she finally found the step in her footing and made her way to the table and sat down opposite to Pimlin, Dreyfus sat next to Pimlin. Dreyfus reached into the voluminous pockets in his robes and rummaged through them for a moment, the tip of his tongue protruding from behind his lips, his furry brows pinching together.
“Ah!†he exclaimed as his eyes popped wide open as he procured what he was looking for. He produced a small leather pouch with a silk pull-tie to keep it closed. He opened the bag with his fingers and dumped the contents out onto the table. “Bones.†He said.
She looked up to the old Elezen perking up a single eye brow. “Bones?â€Â
“Aye, but not just any bones mind you, these bones can tell a tale for which there are no words. Descriptions for which there is no sight.†He explained and gathered them up in his hand. He reached over the table, taking the Miqo’te’s hand gently and placed the small bones in her hand. He closed her fingers over them, placing a hand over her closed fist while holding it up with the other. “You must roll them, when you are ready. Simply raise your hand,†he explained raising his own hand. “And let them, go.†He sat straight up and looked to Pimlin, the two shared the same eager yet concerned expression.
She looked between the two and they motioned for her to hurry up. She looked to her fist, opening it up slightly to look at the tiny bones. She wasn’t sure how this was supposed to help her, but at this point she didn’t care. She craved to know something about herself so she clenched the bones in her fist and raised it over the table at eyes length, then let them fall.
They hit the table with a clatter, sounding like the ticking of a clock though much more rapidly as they bounced off the wood of the table and each other until coming to their final resting places. Dreyfus immediately leaned in close to them, holding his beard back from disturbing the pieces, and studied them. Pimlin raised his chin slightly, looking frantically between the bones and Dreyfus, his eyes wide. She had to resist the urge to laugh at the Lalafell’s expression as his tiny fingers slowly emerged on the table’s edge.
“Hmmm… Yes. I see. Well,†Dreyfus said as he studied the pieces.
“Well what?†Pimlin and the Miqo’te said in unison.
“Well, it’s not the best. Most of these pieces are just scattered, fragments of, well, of something but as far as I can tell nothing. This cluster here, however,†He said pointing to a group of four bones that landed just to her left, Dreyfus’ right. “These reveal a name.†He finished looked up to her.
She looked to him with pleading eyes. “Please, tell me. What’s the name?â€Â
“Quite an odd name, if you ask me, but these bone’s here spell out ‘D’vislian’l.’†He looked back to her. “Which would be your name, since you rolled the bones.â€Â
Her head cocked back slightly, her eyes darting back and forth at something the two men couldn’t see. “D’vislian’l…†she said to herself, rolling the name around in her head. “It… It sounds familiar, but it doesn’t feel right. I don’t think that that’s right.†She said finally focusing her gaze on the two opposite her.
Dreyfus slammed his fists down on the table abruptly, scattering the pieces out of proportion, startling both the Miqo’te and Pimlin, and leaned forward putting his face right into hers, the insanity in his eyes and voice increasing five fold. “Are you an old man?†he said quietly but threateningly.
“What? No.†She replied highly confused.
He pressed his face closer to hers, pushing his nose to hers. “Do you have a bag filled with tiny bones?â€Â
She cringed as the smell of his breath wafted up into her nostrils and she back up. “No!†She said deftly.
He sat back and crossed his arms. “Then I’ll be begging your pardon, what the hell do you know? These bones never lie! Unless,†he said curiously. “Unless you’re lying.â€Â
She was taken aback. “Me? Lying? I don’t even know who I am so how can I lie about a name that was read off some poor dead things bones that I’ve never heard before?â€Â
Dreyfus’ eyes narrowed. “Sound point. But, as it remains, that is your name. You rolled them, no one else.â€Â
She waived her hand. “Fine, D’vislian’l it is then. Now, what about—“
A large rumble could be heard off in the distance and the ground began to shake. The three gripped the edge of the table to steady themselves as the tremor grew more violent. A small branch hit the table, startling Pimlin who, if it wasn’t for Dreyfus’ quick reaction to catch him, would have fell directly on his head from jumping backwards. It was over as quick as it started and the three checked themselves over to make sure nothing was damaged, though Dreyfus spent more time staring into D’vislian’l again, his gaze once again making her uncomfortable.
“What the hell was that?†She asked.
Dreyfus and Pimlin looked around then shared a glance. “It was The Darkness.†Dreyfus exclaimed looking back at D’vislian’l.
A questioning looked washed over D’vislian’l’s face. “The Darkness? What’s that?â€Â
“Not what,†Dreyfus said. “But who.â€Â
“Who?â€Â
“Yes, though no one really knows who he, or she, is. The Darkness appeared some months ago and began to ravage the land, changing and rearranging the world as we once knew it creating death and destruction in its wake.†Dreyfus sighed and stood, stretching his old muscles. He noticed D’vislian’l’s eyes darting back and forth across the darkening sky, worry on her face. “No need to worry, he mainly sticks to Mor Dohna these days. It’s been several weeks since he’s been here.â€Â
D’vislian’l’s brows came together in confused thought. “Mor Dohna? We’re in Eorzea?â€Â
“Of course we are, where did you think we were?†Pimlin said in his customary joyous tone.
She shook her head, gently rubbing the bump on her forehead. “Ahh, I thought this was Nifelheim.†Her eyes clenched shut and she gritted her teeth. “I’m so confused…†The depravity in her voice caused Pimlin’s smile to fade and he shrank into his seat slightly.
“Regardless of where we are it is West we must go, into the treacherous lands of Mor Dohna, to pay a visit to Xylin.†Dreyfus said grimly.
Pimlin rose from his seat, standing on the bench seat. “But he’s even more crazy than you are.†He exclaimed.
“Be that as it may, my small simple headed friend, I fear that Xylin is the only one who can help D’vislian’l recover her full memory.†Dreyfus stood deep in thought.
D’vislian’l looked between the Lalafell and Elezen elder. “Why would we go to such lengths and danger just so I can recover my memory? What’s special about me?â€Â
Dreyfus turned to her, his eyes wide. “Who said you were special? Certainly not me. Pimlin? No? Well you’re not, so don’t get your ego in a knot.†He sighed. “It is due to the simple fact that I feel I have to guide you on this quest, no other reason. But it is late and sleep is needed, we have an early start tomorrow.â€Â
Pimlin jumped off the table and ran to the tent. “I call the tent!†He shouted, disappearing inside.
Dreyfus shook his head. “No manners that one. It seems you’ll be resting under the stars tonight. The grass is quite comfortable and it stays fairly warm this time of year.â€Â
“That’s fine.†D’vislian’l said flatly as she stood from the table and walked up to the tree and lay down in the cool grass, wrapping her tail around her leg and closing her eyes.
Dreyfus watched the Miqo’te for a moment longer than walked over to the tent. He stopped just short of entering and looked to her again, she was already sound asleep. “Rest well,†he said quietly. “For soon you will need to right the wrongs of this world and you’ll need all your strength.†He lingered a moment, then entered the tent, mumbling something derogatory to Pimlin.